Although his team was jockeying for its own respect at the time, Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock was unabashed when describing what impressed him most about the Blues last season.

"They're relentless," Hitchcock said. "They just keep coming after you, coming after you. They just keep playing and playing, and if you don't have the stomach for the fight, they just break you right down."

That was in March, as the Blues were in the process of posting the NHL's best record in the second half of the season and completing their bid for a playoff spot.

Eight months later, it's doubtful that Hitchcock or any other coach would have that same evaluation of the Blues. They are 5-6-1 overall and 1-5 at home, have been shut out in each of their past two games and have dropped to 25th in the standings.

To comprehend the situation, understand that those numbers can turn around quickly. But at the root of the Blues' concern now is that those numbers reflect a bigger issue: A team that built its reputation on hard work and desperation has misplaced its identity.

"Obviously, we're missing part of our game we had last year ... that same consistent effort for 60 minutes every night," Blues forward B.J. Crombeen said. "I think it's something that you have to establish every year ... your team identity. Everyone is looking for it, and there's not one answer why we don't have it. But we've just got to put our heads down and go out and find it."

The Blues will have had two days of practice before hosting the Calgary Flames on Thursday at Scottrade Center. They will have gone through several puck-moving drills and body-banging sessions in those 48 hours, but what seems to be absent in the Blues' recent play might not be found on the ice.