"It All Starts With Me. I Can't Let That Happen Again This Season. It's Just Unacceptable." -- Schenn Shoulders Blame After Latest Blues Debacle

ST. LOUIS -- Brayden Schenn is ever one to mince words.

The St. Louis Blues captain shouldered much of the blame on Saturday after the team's latest debacle, an 8-1 beatdown at the hands of the Washington Capitals, in which the Blues (7-8-0) completely embarrassed themselves with a poorly-played, lack-of-effort third period.

It's the second time since Oct. 29 that the Blues have allowed eight goals in a game, and by same identical scores (against the Ottawa Senators). And they're just 15 games into the season.

But in order for this season to not fall off the rails fast, it's time for the leaders to grab this group, and grab it now.

Schenn's not a screamer. Maybe in the old days, he would be, but

"Yeah, those days are definitely gone, but at the same time, it's my job, it's 'Faulker's job, it's Colton [Parayko] and 'Tommer' when he's around. We've got to hold each other accountable. Hold each other accountable and hold yourself accountable. It all starts with me, with that happening in Ottawa and then happening again tonight ... it all starts with me. I can't let that happen again this season. It's just unacceptable. You're going to lose hockey games, but to get embarrassed on home ice on Saturday night, you can't let that happen."

It's the guys wearing the letters that need to harness this. The team can't expect the younger guys to do it. But before any of that even takes shape, as Justin Faulk said, everyone needs to look i the mirror.

"Yeah, each guy needs to look at themselves," Faulk said. "I could probably say there were a few guys that competed pretty hard tonight and played, but the rest, there was nothing there in the third. Got to look at yourself and have an honest conversation with yourself and hope you realize that it's unacceptable. If you don't see that or think that of yourself, it's not a good look and I hope guys, myself included, everyone realizes that just shouldn't happen here."

How is it the Blues can play the way they did (twice!) against the Toronto Maple Leafs and come up with the results -- and effort levels -- they did against the Capitals and Senators?

It's definitely an enigma, but the coaching staff has to get this group to buy into how they have to win: ugly at times and playing for lower scores.

"I need guys to play to their potential and be able to do that for 60 minutes," Blues coach Drew Bannister said. "I believe the guys in the room can do that and we can have success with the group that we have, but we need more from all of us in here. Changing guys in and out of the lineup obviously isn't an option right now, but the players themselves and the group in the room, if they play to their potential, we’ll win hockey games. It’s being consistent from day to day to be able to do that."

So where do these leaders need to pull the group?

"We've got to find ways to bring energy and passion to the game," Faulk said. "We can see we've struggled with our starts a little bit, playing from behind a lot. We're kind of dipping our toes in and wading in so we've got to find a way to get some energy in this group and in this locker room and bring life and get us going at start of games. Just find a way to be better all around."

There will be exactly three days to see if there's a response, because the competition won't get easier.

"I think just the third period, once they got up, guys just stopped playing," Schenn said. "That's what happens when you stop playing. Every single guy ... every single guy is held responsible tonight as far as letting that get to eight. We obviously have some sorting out to do here, and need a response on Tuesday."