How much does ‘peaking late’ lead to deep Stanley Cup playoff runs?

“They peaked at the right time.” We’ve heard that expression used to describe late-blooming Stanley Cup playoff juggernauts for years. The 2018-19 St. Louis Blues are the ultimate example: last place in early January, second-half turnaround, best record in the league over their final 10 games, eventual champions.

Like the beer-bellied, balding former starting quarterback trudging into his high-school reunion, you don’t want to…