Scotty Bowman

Under Blake's tutelage, Bowman became a master of hockey strategy. "He knew how each of his players did against everyone else," Bowman told E.M. Swift of Sports Illustrated. "Certain guys do well against one team but not another. He was a good strategist and a good matchup man and wasn't afraid to sit guys out to change his ammunition." It was a lesson Bowman employed throughout his career. Another of Bowman's trademark tactics came from Blake, as well. He constantly changed lineups and on-ice schemes to slow down the opposition and keep them off balance. Bowman's unpredictability allowed him to stay one or two moves ahead of the opposing coach and control the game.

Bowman was only thirty-three when he rose to the pro ranks as assistant coach with the expansion St. Louis Blues, which entered the NHL in 1967. Sixteen games into the season, Blues coach and general manager Lynn Patrick asked Bowman to take over head coaching duties. The team was 4-12 when Bowman stepped in; they finished the season 23-21-14, good enough for third place and a playoff berth. Bowman orchestrated two seven-game upsets to lead the Blues to the 1968 Stanley Cup finals. They lost four straight one-goal games to Canadiens. It was Blake's final season and eighth Stanley Cup. Bowman and the Blues won the Western Division and advanced to the finals the next two years—but failed to win the Cup.