As the NHL regular season winds down, the battle for the Western Conference wildcard spots has become an intense, unpredictable race. But if you look closely, one team seems destined to emerge with a coveted playoff berth: the St. Louis Blues. Their season has been filled with moments of struggle, self-doubt, and resilience — not unlike the character Rachel from Something Borrowed. In fact, Rachel’s journey to finally claiming her long-deserved happiness with Dex mirrors the Blues’ own quest for a wildcard spot.

In Something Borrowed, Rachel is the embodiment of patience, loyalty, and quiet determination. She’s been in love with Dex since law school, but circumstances and her best friend Darcy’s overpowering presence kept her from having what was truly meant for her. Similarly, the Blues have spent most of the NHL regular season chasing the wildcard spot, watching other teams (Darcy) seemingly possess something that should have been theirs all along.

Darcy, much like the other Western Conference teams vying for those final playoff positions, is bold, loud, and flashy. She may seem to have it all — much like teams that got off to hot starts or surged mid-season — but just as Dex was never truly hers, the wildcard spot was never meant to belong to those other teams. Rachel, representing the St. Louis Blues, quietly perseveres, doing the right thing, staying consistent, and waiting for her moment. And now, that moment is finally arriving.

All season long, the Blues have hovered around the playoff picture. There have been injuries, setbacks, and moments of questioning whether they’d be able to break through. But the Blues have found their identity late in the season, much like Rachel finding her voice. They’ve leaned on veteran leadership, timely scoring, and rock-solid goaltending — all while watching teams like the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and the Utah Hockey Club (our metaphorical Darcys) temporarily occupy the wildcard position. But those teams have been “borrowing” the spot, just like Darcy was borrowing Dex.

In Something Borrowed, Dex and Rachel’s connection was undeniable, even if it took them years to realize that they belonged together. The same can be said for the Blues and the wildcard. It’s been theirs all along — they just needed to stay patient and trust in themselves. Now, with the playoff push at its peak, the Blues are finding their rhythm. Young talent is stepping up, veterans are leading the way, and they’re peaking at the perfect time.

Rachel didn’t steal Dex — she simply reclaimed what was destined to be hers. The Blues aren’t stealing a playoff spot from anyone; they’re finally claiming what’s been meant for them all season. The Western Conference wildcard race has been crowded and chaotic, but just like Rachel and Dex’s love story, it’s written in the stars.

The Blues will get that wildcard spot — not because they forced it, but because they were always meant to have it.