(6-6-19) Blues-Bruins Game 5 Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
BOSTON -- The words were spoken Thursday and it's official: Robert Bortuzzo is in, and Joel Edmundson is out for a pivotal Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden (7 p.m.; NBC, KMOX 1120-AM).

Bortuzzo will be paired with Vince Dunn after being scratched in favor of Dunn for Game 4 that the Blues won 4-2 and evened the best-of-7 series 2-2.

"Very excited as anyone would be," Bortuzzo said. "This is the Stanley Cup finals Game 5, we’re playing in a storied building. Like I said, just happy to come in and hopefully contribute.

"... There’s been different circumstances for different things. You know at the end of the day everyone -- I don’t think it has to do with legs or what-not -- it’s just you’re going to get in there and you’re going to be excited to play. You’re going to be refreshed regardless of what’s going on. So, like I said, there’s been different instances for guys going in and out, but just excited for the opportunity."

Edmundson played just 7 minutes 24 seconds in Game 4. When Blues interim coach Craig Berube was asked about Bortuzzo's play and Edmundson perhaps needing to reset, he said, "Like I said the other day, we’ve got a lot of good depth back there and we like to use our guys quite a bit. We took 'Bortz' out and put 'Dunner' in. When we looked at that with 'Dunner', we weren’t sure him coming in first game, so we kept another lefty in there. But I thought he had a real good game, 'Dunner', and if we can have a righty-lefty combo, it’s nice so we’ll put 'Bortz' back in."

- - -

The Bruins are naming defensemen Zdeno Chara (broken jaw) and Matt Grzelcyk (concussion protocol) as gametime decisions, coach Bruce Cassidy said Thursday morning.

Chara was injured in the second period of Game 4 when a Brayden Schenn struck him in the face as it caromed off his stick.

Chara skated as part of Boston's optional on Thursday, along with Grzelcyk, who practiced on Wednesday. Grzelcyk hasn't played since Game 2 when he was injured on a check by Oskar Sundqvist that cost Sundqvist one game.

"They’ll be game-time decisions," Cassidy said. "They’re on the ice now. That’s a good sign. We’ve always said, once they get out there, they’re that much closer."

Chara, unable to speak, answered two questions through the Pro Hockey Writer's Association in handwritten form.

When asked about the biggest challenge of skating with this type of injury, Chara wrote, "At this time of the playoffs, everyone has injuries and there are challenges that you have to overcome to play. I'm no different than any player on either team."

And when asked how he weighs the risk of further injury when deciding whether to play, Chara wrote, "You don't think about that. You think about playing. You don't go into a game thinking you might get hurt."

As for the Blues, once again, they have no concerns about who's in and who's out with the opponent, as it should be. They focus on themselves and focus that Boston will put its best lineup and players out there and adjust accordingly.

"Our focus isn't on if he's in or out," Blues forward Pat Maroon said of Chara. "He's obviously their leader, so he brings leadership to the locker room and that's really all I'm going to say about it. It really doesn't matter. Our focus is on our team right now.

"... We've just got to do what we're capable of doing. We can't really worry about the energy and the noise in Boston. We've just got to find ways to just get to our game right away, and when we get to our game, we're really effective and we're really good at it. When they get to their game, they're really effective. It's going to be a good, solid game tonight. I feel like both teams are going to be coming hard and there'll be a lot of pushback from both teams. Both teams have got to be ready right off the drop of the puck."

Added forward David Perron: "Good for them. We want to play their best team possible. He's one of their good players over there. We wouldn't be surprised if he played."

- - -

Want trends?

The Blues are 6-1 in Games 5-7 and outscored their opponents 23-9, including allowing one goal or fewer in the past four games.

The Bruins are 4-1 and outscored their opponents 17-8, but the Blues feel their formula has been able to wear opponents down as each series has moved along. Ask Winnipeg. Ask Dallas. Ask San Jose.

"I think just realizing what's at stake," Maroon said. "I think realizing how close we are, how far we've come and what we need to do. I think once you start playing your game and realizing how good we are and how effective we are, I think it starts coming with confidence, a little swagger throughout the series. Players start to gain it more and more, so I think the players do a good job of responding to that."

In the past four games from 5-7, the Blues have outscored Dallas and San Jose 16-3 and are 4-0.

"It's great to see for sure," Perron said. "We want to keep that going. We have another opportunity tonight to prove that. It would put us off in a really good spot and I look forward to the game tonight.

"We're well-prepared by our coaches for sure. I think guys get to know some of the tendencies over there and we also know that our game works when we execute it. We've proven that in the two games that we've won. We want to do more of the same tonight."

"It's hard to pinpoint exactly, but I think when we see what works for us, maybe it takes a couple of games and then it sets in," Bortuzzo said. "We’ve been able to build in the right direction through all the series."

The Blues hope the trend continues.

"I guess it’s been a little pattern, but I think we kind of figure it out as we go and we stay with it and we stay composed and we get better as we go," Blues goalie Jordan Binnington said. "It's good.

"... Obviously the series is tied 2-2. It’s the best-of-3 now. And tonight’s a huge game and they’re going to come out hard in their own building. Just try to do our job and stay composed."

- - -

Berube felt Zach Sanford deserved to move up in the lineup, and playing with Ryan O'Reilly and Perron sparked some magic again.

From Oct. 20-Nov. 3 spanning six games, that line accounted for 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists). They played together again on Dec. 7 and Jan. 8-15, six more games and collected 11 points (three goals, eight assists).

After O'Reilly's two-goal game and a Sanford assist in Game 4, that's 37 points (12 goals, 25 assists) in 13 games together.

"It's nice that we played with him before," Perron said of Sanford. "I thought he was extremely sharp, even in his first game quite honestly. I think he was really sharp with us. Good netfront presence, good on the forecheck, really gave us room to by going there, creating some space for us to work with the puck behind the net. We need him to be doing the same thing tonight and I know he will."

It was quite evident that Sanford's big body and presence down low with the puck created time and space for O'Reilly and Perron.

"For me, those two guys are really easy to play with," Sanford said. "They both do a great job hanging onto the puck. They make the right plays, they make the smart plays. They're willing to go to those dirty areas, like you saw Ryan get those two goals last game. You know, they've both been around a lot, they've seen a lot and played with a lot of different guys. So just listening to them and hearing what they have to say, for me, being able to take that in and use that to my advantage to help us out had been pretty good. We just have a good chemistry in that way."

- - -

With Robert Thomas set to miss his fourth straight game (wrist) in this series, Maroon and Tyler Bozak have had to adjust to playing without what Maroon called the "bus" of their line.

Robby Fabbri and now Sammy Blais have been the linemates to take Thomas' spot.

"We're veteran players," Maroon said. "I think when our name gets called upon, we're going to jump over the boards and try to do our best. That stuff really doesn't matter. We're just going to try and play our game. Obviously without Robert, he's an elite player, he kind of drove the bus with his young legs with us old guys in the middle and left side. It'd good though. 'Fabbs' did a good job coming in and adding speed. I thought our line was effective and then Sammy same thing. He adds some speed, some different element, toughness, a guy that knows how to cycle the puck. Those guys have done a really good job. Whoever they put on our line, we're just happy. We'll try to communicate with them and get into our game right away. Our line's not a line that's going to score off the rush. We're just going to wear the 'D' down and getting to the net getting second and third opportunities and gain some energy for our team."

- - -

How good have the Blues need 5-on-5 in this series? Well all you need to consider is that the top six Bruins forwards (Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci and old friend David Backes) have exactly zero points in this series.

In fact, Marchand has the only goal (an empty-netter in Game 1) when the Blues had five or more skaters on the ice, and it was a 6-on-5 goal.

"I feel just as a team we're better off 5-on-5," Blues center Brayden Schenn said. "We play together as a group, we play tight out there. Our D-men are big, they can skate, they swarm. It's pretty typical. There's usually a lot more penalties at the beginning of a series. Towards the end, you have to dial it in. There's not many power plays throughout the game. And I think we're going to see that here in the last couple games.

"... We know what our game looks like 5-on-5," Blues forward Jaden Schwartz said. "When we get to it, it makes it tough on other teams as far as giving them time and space to make plays and create speed with the puck. That's something that we've kind of continued to build all year."

- - -

* This marks the 26th time the Cup Final has been tied 2-2 under the best-of-7 format (since 1939). The team that tied the series has gone on to win the Cup in 10 of the previous 25 instances, including three of the last five occasions (2015, 2013 and 2011).

* When a best-of-7 series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 holds an all-time series record of 210-58 (78.4%), including a 5-3 mark in the 2019 playoffs and 18-7 mark in the Stanley Cup Final (72.0%).

* The Blues are 8-1 when winning Game 5 all-time when a series is tied 2-2. Boston holds an all-time series record of 14-3 in a best-of-7. 

The Blues will be playing their first Cup Final game in franchise history; Boston has been tied 2-2 in the Final on four previous occasions, losing Game 5 each time but winning the Cup once (2011 vs. Vancouver).

* Vladimir Tarasenko has 11 points Six goals, five assists) in the past 10 games, Schenn has six points (three goals, three assists) in the past six games, and O’Reilly has seven points (two goals, five assists) the past five games.

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko

Zach Sanford-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Sammy Blais-Tyler Bozak-Pat Maroon

Ivan Barbashev-Oskar Sundqvist-Alexander Steen

Carl Gunnarsson-Alex Pietrangelo

Jay Bouwmeester-Colton Parayko

Vince Dunn-Robert Bortuzzo

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Jake Allen will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Joel Edmundson, Robby Fabbri, Michael Del Zotto, Mackenzie MacEachern, Chris Thorburn, Chris Butler and Ville Husso. Robert Thomas (wrist) remains out. 

- - -

The Bruins' projected lineup (based off rushes on Wednesday):

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-David Backes

Marcus Johansson-Charlie Coyle-Danton Heinen

Joakim Nordstrom-Sean Kuraly-Noel Acciari

John Moore-Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo

Steven Kampfer-Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask will start in goal; Jaroslav Halak will be the backup.

The healthy scratch includes Karson Kuhlman. Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) is a gametime decision, as is Zdeno Chara (broken jaw). Chris Wagner (right arm) and Kevan Miller (lower body) are out.

(6-6-19) BLUES NOTEBOOK

Bortuzzo to replace Edmundson for Game 5; Chara not practicing, 

not ruled out; Grzelcyk could return for Bruins; Thomas still not skating

By LOU KORAC
BOSTON -- It looks like the Blues will alter their blue line for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final when they insert Robert Bortuzzo back in and make Joel Edmundson a healthy scratch on Thursday.

Bortuzzo, who was scratched for Game 4 when Vince Dunn returned from a six-game hiatus with a broken jaw, played in line rushes at practice Wednesday on the third pairing with Dunn, and Edmundson was with Michael Del Zotto as the extras.

Edmundson played just 7 minutes 24 seconds in Game 4 and had two hits and two giveaways, including one that got the ire of coach Craig Berube when the lefty got to the bench.

The Blues have interchangeable parts on their blue line and will go with the best six they feel can get the job done.

Bortuzzo scored a key goal in Game 2 of the series, a 3-2 win by the Blues in overtime. The best-of-7 series is tied 2-2.

"It's been very good competition," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "I think again, we use everybody, and that's what you need to do in the playoffs. I think that it's a good competition. All the guys realize it. They care about each other. When somebody goes in and somebody goes out, they're on the same page and they're good about it, and that's important. You don't have to be happy about it, but you still got to be a good teammate and they have been very good that way. It's great to have the depth."

"It keeps guys fresh, but within games too, it's interchangeable," Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "It gives us a break when guys are out there for special teams. It's just chemistry, camaraderie, reading off each other, having been together for a while. It definitely makes things easier too. We do it up front more often than people realize and keeping guys fresh throughout a game.

"Everybody wants to be in this situation. Everybody wants to be playing."

Edmundson has seven points (one goal, six assists) in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games; Bortuzzo has two goals in 15 games.

"We've got a lot of good players on the back end," Blues forward Jaden Schwartz said. "Even guys who are sitting out some games, they all kind of bring a different dynamic and our back end's very deep a big reason why we're here. They make our job easy as far as on the backcheck and getting pucks out to us out of the d-zone, so they've been great for us."

* Chara doesn't skate, not ruled out -- Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who has what has been reported as a broken jaw stemming from the wrist shot he took from Brayden Schenn early in the second period of the Blues' 4-2 win in Game 4.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy wouldn't confirm any reports, only saying Chara has a "facial injury" and that his loss would be a blow but one Boston would have to overcome.

"Our mentality will be fine in terms of being able to win without certain players now if we're talking about 'Zee' because we've done it," Cassidy said. "We've been there, we've done it; not in the finals of the Stanley Cup but we did it against Carolina in the clinching game. Now, we were up 3-0 so maybe there's a little more going on there. We did it without [Charlie] McAvoy Game 1 against Carolina. We've done it without 'Bergy' [Patrice Bergeron] this year, different guys. So I think our guys are good that way knowing that the team will pull together. It's just tough when you lose [Chara]. He is your captain and he plays some valuable minutes in this particular series. Against a heavier team, that's where you miss the actual what he brings to the table. But in terms of the mentality, I think this team will be OK. And we don't know 'Zee' if he misses one game, if he wouldn't be available for the next one if that's the case, either. We don't really know right now. There's a little bit of that hope factor for us as well."

What's good about the Blues is they don't care or worry about who's in or who's out on the other side. They've maintained sole focus on their own locker room and will keep it that way.

"It doesn't switch our game plan much," Schwartz said. "We've got to focus on us and worry about executing our game plan and getting to our game as quick as we can. We can't really worry too much about who's in for them and who's not."

Forward Pat Maroon said Berube gives the team reminders of what to worry/not worry about.

"We just focus on what we need to do," Maroon said. "I think Chief does a good job reminding us that it’s not them, it’s about us. We can’t focus on who’s in or who’s out of their lineup. We don’t even look at the lineup sheets. We just go in and play."

The Bruins could get a boost from the return of defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who has missed the past three games from concussion protocol stemming from a check from Oskar Sundqvist, who was suspended for Game 3.

* Thomas still not skating -- Blues forward Robert Thomas did not participate in practice again and is not expected to play in Game 5, the fourth straight game Thomas will miss.

He's been nursing a wrist injury since Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks and has not played since he was the recipient of a hard check from Bruins defenseman Torey Krug in Game 1.

Blues adjusted forecheck led to key Game 4 win over Bruins

Played more connected, didn't allow Boston as many puck 

touches led to sustained zone time; series now tied 2-2 and a best-of-3

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Making the proper adjustments can be the difference between winning and losing.

The Blues and Boston Bruins have taken turns in the Stanley Cup Final making proper adjustments between games, and it's no wonder the best-of-7 series is tied 2-2 and teams have alternated wins.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues forward Ivan Barbashev (left) lays an offensive zone check on Bruins 

defenseman Brandon Carlo during Game 4 on Monday night.

It was the Blues' turn in Game 4, a convincing 4-2 win, in which they did with a complete makeover of how they played in Game 3, a 7-2 drubbing highlighted by Boston's efficiency on the power play.

The Blues had to adjust their forecheck, and they did. 

How?

By being more tactical, as center Oskar Sundqvist said.

"I think we moved the puck quicker," he said, "and we were supporting each other more. We were staying connected and closer to each other. That's our game, too. We need to stay close and connected. If we're not doing that, then they're going to forecheck us and they're going to win the puck back, so we need to do that every shift."

More to the identity of the Blues, too, is playing 5-on-5, which they were better at in this game, only going on the penalty kill twice, killing both, and keeping it on level ground.

The Blues have been the better team at 5-on-5 play.

"We just need to keep doing what we did [Monday], stay out of the penalty box and play as much 5-on-5 as possible," Sundqvist said. "When we do that, we're going to have a good chance to win."

Forward Zach Sanford said things didn't quite pan out that way for Game 3.

"There was a lot of cases when F1 was getting in hard and the puck was popping out, but we weren't there to pick it up," Sanford said. "Tonight, all four lines were doing a great job getting that second man in and getting those loose pucks and creating chances off of that."

Boston had little zone time on average in the game, and by being able to control the puck, forecheck and get it back in the offensive zone and not giving Boston's defensemen and forwards room to maneuver in the neutral zone eliminated any chances the Bruins would get off the rush.

"We played our game like we did in Game 2," Blues forward Pat Maroon said. "All four lines go to their game early. Our team's not an east-west team … We let them transition. I think we did a good job of just playing north-south hockey. We’re a big, heavy team and when we get pucks low, we grind it down low and get second and third opportunities, we get rewarded. Like I said, we’re just a north-south, simple kind of team. We did that tonight."

And it seems like the Blues were smacked in the face with adversity again, and once again, they came out of it for the moment. 

"I've said it before, things don't really seem to faze us," said Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, who had two assists, was a plus-3 and played arguably his best Stanley Cup Playoff game in 29:37 ice time. "Obviously, last game got out of hand and we weren't too proud of that. I felt like last game we actually did start pretty well, the first 5-10 minutes, we just do the same thing. We use everybody and put teams on their heels. We get a lot of momentum opportunities from that."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues center Ryan O'Reilly (90) scores the first goal of the game past Bruins

goalie Tuukka Rask in the first period of Game 4 on Monday night.

They also get a lot of opportunities from what interim coach Craig Berube called, "Puck placement."

"We did a good job of putting pucks in where we had speed already going onto the puck, which is important, and getting there and making contact, having our second man in their quick," Berube added. "What we did better tonight, again, we stayed out of the penalty box, there wasn't a lot of penalties, we had a lot of 5-on-5 play and we had a lot of o-zone time because of it. We did a good job of managing in the offensive zone, not throwing it away, working, keeping it, having some good patience with it, taking a good shot when we had one, but not getting it blocked, and then keep working and grinding."

O'Reilly, Blues even series with Bruins after 4-2 win in Game 4

Center nets two goals, including tiebreaker in third period; Schenn adds goal, 

assist; Pietrangelo adds two assists as Stanley Cup Final becomes best-of-3

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Ryan O'Reilly, welcome to the Stanley Cup Final. The Blues needed his offense in the biggest way in a must-win spot.

And who could have thought it would be Zach Sanford to bring out the best in O'Reilly?

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues forward David Perron (57) joins in celebrating a goal by Ryan O'Reilly

(right) in a 4-2 win over Boston in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

O'Reilly's line injected some life into the Blues' lineup. O'Reilly scored twice, including the game-winner midway through the third period to help the Blues to a 4-2 win against the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday at Enterprise Center, the first-ever home win in the Cup Final.

The best-of-7 series is now tied 2-2, with Game 5 set for Boston on Thursday.

O'Reilly had just three goals in 22 playoff games but became the second Blue in St. Louis playoff history and first since Red Berenson (Game 3, 1968 vs. Montreal) to score multiple goals in the Cup Final.

Sanford, who made his debut in the series in game 3, added his second assist in as many games, and coupled with David Perron, the line was effective and impactful in the offensive zone. And if Sanford was what needed to inject some goal-scoring into O'Reilly, the Blues will be happy.

"I don't know, but I'll take it," Sanford said with a grin. "He was awesome for us tonight at both ends. He has been all playoffs. For him to score a big goal like that, it's awesome to see."

A win was of utmost importance for the Blues, who could have been faced with elimination heading back to Boston for Game 5, but they have now made it a best-of-3 series, which is what they wanted.

"We're happy we tied it up," said Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, who made 21 saves and improved to 7-2 in the playoffs following a loss, one off an NHL record. "It's just two games, and like you said, it's a best-of-3 so we start preparing for the next game."

The Blues, as Boston did in Game 3, adjusted and figured some things out. It seems to be a common thread in this series. Their forecheck was what interim coach Craig Berube called "relentless" and smothering. It was effective and enabled the Blues to have sustained zone time shift after shift. None was more evident than when a shift that began in the Boston zone with 9:09 left in the second, and when a penalty was called on Boston defenseman Connor Clifton with 6:07 remaining, the Bruins were only able to exit the zone four times for all of 25 seconds.

"We were relentless, I thought, tonight," Berube said. "We didn't stop for 60 minutes. That's how I look at the game. Guys were hounding pucks and hounding pucks and working and reloading and doing all the little things right. Line changes were great, getting fresh people out there. It was a good game all around.

"Puck placement (was effective). We did a good job of putting pucks in. We had speed already going onto the puck, which was important, and getting there and making contact and having our second man in there quick. What we did better tonight, we stayed out of the penalty box, there wasn't a lot of penalties. We had a lot of 5-on-5 play and we had a lot of o-zone time because of it. We did a good job of managing it in the offensive zone not throwing it away, working it, keeping it, having some patience with it, taking a good shot when we have one, not getting it blocked and keep working it. I thought we did a good job of that tonight."

The Blues got good jump early, and scored another goal in the game's first minute when O'Reilly's wraparound gave them a 1-0 lead 43 seconds in.

The Blues had good D-to-D movement with Pietrangelo, who had two assists and was a plus-3 in 29:37, and Vince Dunn, who made an immediate impact upon returning to the lineup after missing six games getting hit in the mouth with a shot in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. Dunn's wrister towards the net gets tipped by Sanford, O'Reilly collects the rebound and beats Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask to the near post to make it 1-0.

The Blues played more in Boston's end but Charlie Coyle scored his third goal in as many games to tie the game 1-1 at 13:14. Coyle was able to get a slight redirection of Zdeno Chara's sharp-angle shot, Binnington couldn't contain the rebound, and Coyle was on the doorstep. Chara left in the second period, by the way, after a Brayden Schenn wrister from the right circle caroms off his stick and hit him in the mouth. Chara was bleeding badly and went in for repairs but did not return to the ice for the remainder of the game but was on the bench in the third period wearing a full face cage. He played just 8:23.

"We clearly know he got a puck to the face, very uncomfortable, was advised not to return to play, had some stitches, probably some dental work in the near future," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He wanted to come out on the bench and be with his teammates, that’s why he was out there. I don’t know his status for Game 5. Obviously when he gets back home, he’ll have to be re-evaluated, see how he feels tomorrow for starters. If we have something for you we’ll give it to you. So I can’t say whether he’ll play in Game 5 or not. No idea." 

The Blues regained the lead when Vladimir Tarasenko put them ahead 2-1 at 15:30 when the Blues' top line worked into the zone, and as Brayden Schenn was passing through the slot, Jaden Schwartz did enough to get to Connor Clifton's stick, and the puck for the Pietrangelo. His shot off Rask's right pad found its way to the slot, and Tarasenko finished high blocker side.

"I think we shoot the puck way more this game," said Tarasenko, noting the Blues' 38-23 shot advantage, including 64-41 shot attempts in favor of the Blues. "It's playoffs, a little bit different game than the regular season. You don't really have like clear shots. People try to block shots. You try your chances and score some greasy goals. You see on our goals."

The Blues, for the most part, dominated the second period but came of it tied 2-2 when they allowed a deflating shorthanded goal to Brandon Carlo at 14:19.

The Blues had literally dominated zone time for a good three minutes without scoring, had a number of Boston skaters in zone dead tired, Tarasenko drew a penalty, and the Blues' woeful power-play struck again.

Dunn and O'Reilly didn't pressure Brad Marchand, who found Patrice Bergeron for a shot, and Binnington gave up a big rebound for Carlo to put it home on the far side.

"Even though they tied it up there with the shorthanded goal, we responded and we regrouped in the second intermission and had a big third period," Binnington said.

Yes they did.

O'Reilly put the Blues ahead for good when he drive the net and banged home a rebound of Pietrangelo's shot from the right boards. Rask made the initial save but left a juicy rebound and O'Reilly made it 3-2 with 9:22 left.

"We were catching them on a change and we had a quick-up mindset that we kind of talked about as a team having," O'Reilly said. "For that, it was just go to the net with some speed and it was a good shot and good bounce.

"... The way it was developing, we were going to have something to the net once you see Petro coming down there. I'm just trying to to what I can to get to that backside. It was a great bounce that happens sometimes and you just try to throw it at the net. Sometimes you get those bounces and I was lucky to be on the end of it."

Pietrangelo added: "They dove in for a change. It's tough to beat a goalie from that angle. When you get traffic going to the net like that, you try and shoot it hard and make him make a good save and hope to get a rebound. It's a great job by him going to the net because if he doesn't do that, it's probably an easy rebound for him."

The Blues, who outshot the Bruins 13-4 in the third period, never gave Boston a chance at sustained zone time. Pucks were being sealed off in the neutral zone, then right back into the Boston zone, and Schenn's empty-net goal with 1:29 sealed it when he picked Clifton's pocket in the neutral zone.

The Blues' forechecking style was led by Oskar Sundqvist, Alexander Steen and Ivan Barbashev, the so-called fourth line that had the assignment of shutting down Boston's top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak.

Sundqvist, who came back after being suspended for Game 3, played 19:32, Steen played 17:38 and Barbashev played 17:27 to help alleviate some of the pressure of the Blues' top players so they're fresher later in games.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70) returned to the

lineup and helped shut down Boston's David Pastrnak

(88) and the Bruins' top line.

"I'll tell you what, Sundqvist's line was unreal tonight," Berube said. "They did a great job against Bergeron all night. They were out there almost every shift against Bergeron's line. I thought they did a helluva job.

"... It was a real team game. I thought everyone contributed and everyone was on the same page."

Sanford finished with 10:18 ice time and was a plus-2. He had four shots on goal and five of the Blues' 44 hits.

"He played a great game, start to finish," O'Reilly said of Sanford. "He was making plays at key times. We found a way to just tighten the forecheck. We pressured them well. I think just as a group, being disciplined really helped us kind of find a rhythm, which allows us to roll the lines a bit. We use that momentum with each other to keep building off it. As the game was going on, we were wearing them down and just kind of rolling shift after shift."

When the Blues used Sanford, O'Reilly and Perron earlier this season for six games, they produced 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists).

"They've been together a couple times," Berube said. "They produced when we had them together. Sanford's strong on the puck and he's got good puck skills down low in the offensive zone. I really liked his game in Game 3. I thought if maybe I put those guys together, it might spark a little bit and get something going. It was fortunate enough that they did. That was my thought process on it."

(6-3-19) Bruins-Blues Game 4 Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Lineup changes for the Blues in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final today (7 p.m.; NBC, KMOX 1120-AM) were inevitable.

The Blues, who trail the best-of-7 series 2-1, will insert Vince Dunn back into the lineup for the first time in seven games; he's missed the past six games with an upper-body injury stemming from being hit in the mouth by a shot in Game 3 of the Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks.

Dunn will be paired with Carl Gunnarsson tonight.

"I just wanted to feel myself getting used to the speed of things," Dunn said. "The more I practiced, the faster I was catching up to things. So I gotta feel like myself out there, I want to be able to be effective and I want to be the player that I was (before)."

Dunn has been practicing on a regular basis throughout the series and for the first time, at least publicly, was seen laughing and smiling with teammates. It was quite the turn of events after not being able to do much before. It's believed his jaw has been wired shut, but even in light of likely more surgery in the off-season, he knew Sunday he'd be ready to go tonight.

"Yeah, I was feeling good," said Dunn, who has two goals and five assists in 16 playoff games. "It's nice to be out there practicing with everyone. You start to get a little uncomfortable when you're away from the rink for so long, and not in your routine. So it's nice to be back with the guys, back in the dressing room, practicing with them as a full team."

Dunn will be making his Cup Final debut and is excited.

"It's crazy," he said. "You see 'Bouw' [Jay Bouwmeester], he's played so many years. You know, a lot of those years he didn't even make it to the playoffs. For me, at such a young age, it's very special. You kind of take things for granted when you're younger, but now you really take it in. You don't really believe it until you're here. It's very special to be in this position that I'm in at such a young age. I just want to make the best of it. I want to be the player that I was all season. I think everyone in here, the confidence that we built, and the excitement from the city and all that coming together. I think we're gonna be a really good group of guys into the game tonight."

Dunn will bring puck transition  for the Blues, a much-needed element, and helps add something to a power play that's 1-for-10 in the series.

"He moves the puck as good as anybody on our team from our own end out transition-wise," Blues coach Craig Berube said of Dunn. "Dunn has the capability of doing high-end things in the offensive zone sometimes. Not all the time, but there's just times where he can do things that wow you a little bit and make a great play or score a goal from nothing. He can make something from nothing a lot of the times in those areas.

"... I think he’ll be fine. He’s ready to play and he’s 100 percent and he wants to go and he wants to play, so we’re going to get a good player back. Yeah, it’s going to be intense for him right away, but he’ll get into it and he’ll make good plays with the puck like he always does. I expect the same Vince Dunn you’ve seen."

The Blues are happy to have Dunn back.

"He brings a lot of different things," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "He’s a guy who moves the puck well, he’s fast, he’s got a lot of skill. He can do it all. So when you have a guy like that added to the lineup, it’s obviously key, and it’s obviously a big addition. He’s a guy who plays quick and moves the puck really well. Sees the first pass. Makes the first play, and that’s a big thing. We’re excited to get him back. Obviously we can’t wait to see him do his thing tonight. It’s got to be exciting for him. He’s been watching, and we’re really looking forward to seeing him do his thing."

The Blues will shuffle their forward groups up a bit after losing 7-2 in Game 3.

Oskar Sundqvist returns after missing one game due to suspension and will replace Robby Fabbri, who played in Games 2 and 3, and he will center the fourth line again with Ivan Barbashev and Alexander Steen. 

"It’s huge," Blues forward Pat Maroon said of Sundqvist's return. "Sunny obviously was missed last game on the penalty kill. He brings  a different element. He plays a two-way game. He can check the best line, he can score, he can just be a good forward off the rush. Obviously we missed him on the PK." 

Zach Sanford, who made his debut in the series in Game 3, moves up after playing on the fourth line and will play with Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron on the second line, while Sammy Blais, who had been playing with O'Reilly and Perron since Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Dallas Stars, will move to a line with Tyler Bozak and Maroon. Robert Thomas had been playing there but will miss his third straight game with a wrist injury.

"Obviously I'm excited to be back in tonight," said Sanford, who had an assist in Game 3. "We've had some good chemistry in the past (on that line). I've been watching them play a lot this year and the same with them for me when I'm in. I've just got to bring the same mentality as the last game, be hard and physical and help recover some pucks and we'll be making some plays."


When the Sanford-O'Reilly-Perron line played from Oct. 20-Nov. 3 (six games), it had 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists), and Sanford had three goals and four assists.

"We've had some good chemistry in the past (on that line)," Sanford said. "I've been watching them play a lot this year and the same with them for me when I'm in. I've just got to bring the same mentality as the last game, be hard and physical and help recover some pucks and we'll be making some plays."

Berube liked Sanford's game and wants to keep him in the lineup with his size and strength.

"I thought he had a real good game," Berube said. "I think that was a real good line last game for us. I thought he was strong on the puck. He's good hands, he's got real good puck skills. I thought he had composure with the puck and he moves his feet and he was strong on it."

- - -

After being pulled for the first time in his NHL career in Game 3, Blues goalie Jordan Binnington has turned the page and is moving forward.

In fact, he hasn't even given Game 3 a thought after allowing five goals on 19 shots before being replaced in the second period by Jake Allen.

"I didn’t even really watch film to be honest. Just move on," Binnington said. "... It’s another game. You prepare the same way. Stanley Cup Final, we’re down 2-1, so hopefully we can tie the series up tonight."

As for turning the page, Binnington said: "Same old story, right? Just prepare the same way. As a goalie things are going to happen, it’s not always going to be perfect and you’ve got to regroup, pick yourself back up and move on to the next game.

"I don’t think it was overly emotional. Obviously you don’t like losing, but no matter the score I hate losing so it’s the same feeling. I want to get back in that win column."

Binnington is 6-2 with a 1.84 goals-against average and .935 save percentage in the playoffs following a loss.

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko

Zach Sanford-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Sammy Blais-Tyler Bozak-Pat Maroon

Ivan Barbashev-Oskar Sundqvist-Alexander Steen

Joel Edmundson-Alex Pietrangelo

Jay Bouwmeester-Colton Parayko

Vince Dunn-Carl Gunnarsson

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Jake Allen will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Robert Bortuzzo, Robby Fabbri, Michael Del Zotto, Mackenzie MacEachern, Chris Thorburn, Chris Butler and Ville Husso. Robert Thomas (wrist) remains out. 

- - -

The Bruins' projected lineup:

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-David Backes

Marcus Johansson-Charlie Coyle-Danton Heinen

Joakim Nordstrom-Sean Kuraly-Noel Acciari

Zdeno Chara-Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo

John Moore-Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask will start in goal; Jaroslav Halak will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Steven Kampfer and Karson Kuhlman. Matt Grzelcyk (upper body), Chris Wagner (arm) and Kevan Miller (lower body) are out.

First Stanley Cup home game in 49 years a dud for Blues

Boston scores four power-play goals, Krug leads way with goal, three 

assists in 7-2 victory, take 2-1 series lead; Binnington pulled for first time

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- It looked good for about the first five-plus minutes, and the first Stanley Cup Final game in St. Louis since May 5, 1970 (17,924 days) was off to a rousing start.

It didn't take long for the script to flip, and the Boston Bruins reclaimed advantage in the series.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (50) can't stop a goal by Boston's Patrice

Bergeron (37) in the first period of Game 3 on Saturday night.

And Boston's power play was spotless, a point of troubles for the Blues in this series, and they find themselves down 2-1 in the series.

Torey Krug had a goal and three assists, Patrice Bergeron and Charlie Coyle each had a goal and two assists, and the Bruins were a perfect 4-for-4 with the man advantage and took the zing out of the Enterprise Center crowd with a convincing 7-2 win over the Blues on Saturday.

It wasn't what the Blues were looking for, considering the block party that started and the buzz around town filled the downtown streets with plenty of blue and yellow memorabilia being worn.

The result was a bludgeoning that sent 18,789 home with frowns instead of smiles and left the Blues feeling, well, blue.

The Bruins, who scored their four power-play goals on four shots, used the second half of the first period to their advantage and scored three times to take control, including a goal scored with 9.2 seconds left in the second period that Blues interim coach Craig Berube challenged for offside, only to lose it, get penalized and Boston scoring 41 seconds into the second period to add to the misery.

Yeah, it was that kind of night.

"We’ve got to keep this thing 5-on-5," Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "We gave them too many chances early on. Five-on-five, we actually did a pretty good job, it’s just a matter of keeping them off that power play."

The Blues started the game without all that pent-up energy that comes with playing that first home Cup Final game and had a 5-0 lead on the shot counter early. 

And then that was that.

Jordan Binnington was pulled for the first time in his NHL career in the second period, and not much good came from what started out as an amazing day.

"They played well," Blues forward Alexander Steen said. "We let in one on our PK right off the hop and they got some momentum. ... We kind of dug ourselves a hole that we couldn't get out of."

Bergeron's power-play goal came after David Perron was whistled for interference near center ice, preventing what was already a 2-on-1 that Pietrangelo broke up. The Blues lost the face-off, and Bergeron redirected in Krug's shot from near the blue line at 10:47 to make it 1-0.

Coyle made it 2-0 at 17:40 when the Bruins broke out into an odd-man rush after Sammy Blais, who blew up former Blue David Backes early in the game, pulled back from a clear chance to shoulder check Coyle off the puck. He didn't and Coyle finished off a Marcus Johansson pass.

And then came the nail in the coffin goal, scored by Sean Kuraly, at 19:50 to make it 3-0. It was a busted play that first saw Pietrangelo turn the puck over in the neutral zone playing it off the wall, the puck came back into the zone, and Kuraly beat Binnington short side.

Berube challenged that Joakim Nordstrom was offside, and he was, but the problem is that the NHL's Situation Room determined that Joel Edmundson played the puck back into the defensive zone and thus eliminated any chance for offside.

The goal stood, the Blues and their fans were stunned, and Boston poured it on more when David Pastrnak made it 4-0 at the 41-second mark of the second period.

"I thought it was 50/50," Berube said of the challenge. "I think if we go in there 2-0 into the second, it's a big difference than 3-0."

Assistant/video coach Sean Ferrell has been good on these, for the limited amount of times the Blues have made this call, and he saved the Blues in a game late in the season with a challenge that went their way, and he must have thought Edmundson didn't have control of the puck when it was played off his stick, but the league felt like he did.

"It's difficult," O'Reilly said. "Obviously them having the 3-0 lead, we want to wipe that period away and then you're coming out and you're killing. It's tough. I think they've got to make that challenge. It was close. It's unfortunate it puts us on the PK and they get one again right off the bat, so it kind of took the wind right out and any chance of that early push that we needed in the start of that second.

"You never know what's going to happen. It's tough. From looking at it from my side, it didn't seem like [Edmundson] had control, but at the end of the day, that's the call that was made and we needed to respond better than we did."

They didn't.

The Blues' fourth line, sans the suspended Oskar Sundqvist, produced an Ivan Barbashev goal at 11:05 to make it a 4-1 game on a good cycle play in which Zach Sanford, playing in place of Sundqvist, laid a nice reverse check on Zdeno Chara before feeding Barbashev in the slot.

But Boston would answer 1:07 later when Krug scored the Bruins' third power-play goal, a shot off defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's stick, off Binnington's glove and into the short side to make it 5-1 and ending Binnington's night; he allowed five goals on 19 shots and Jake Allen came on.

"It's not his fault at all," Perron said. "I'm sure he's disappointed, but it has nothing to do (with him). If there's one reason we're here, it's because of him. Games like that, we don't want them to happen but it did tonight. Much like the hand pass against San Jose, even though it's a different situation, but we have to find a way to turn the page and come back way better."

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester (19) tries to defend against Boston

center Patrice Bergeron on Saturday at Enterprise Center.

Colton Parayko's power-play goal at 5:24 of the third period made it a 5-2 game, but Boston would get an empty-net goal from Noel Acciari at 18:12 and another power-play goal from Johansson at 18:35.

"There were some deflections. Two of them," Berube said of the penalty kill. "One went off of Bergeron with a deflection, we didn't get his stick. One went off Bouwmeester's stick and in. We've got to be better. Penalty kill's got to be better.

"... We do have to limit the penalties for sure. We know they have a dangerous power play and we've been flirting with danger here the whole series and it burnt us tonight. But in saying that, we've got to do a better job of killing them tonight and we didn't. That's why they won the hockey game."

(6-1-19) Bruins-Blues Game 3 Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Zach Sanford's emotions are no different today than when he found out on Friday that he'd be making his Stanley Cup Final debut in Game 3 against the Boston Bruins.

"Just excitement," Sanford said. "There's a lot of players that have never got this chance and there's people who never even made it this far. To be able to get this opportunity, it's awesome and I'm just excited to be a part of it and hopefully come in and help the team get a win."

Sanford, who hasn't played since Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Winnipeg Jets, draws in for Oskar Sundqvist, who was suspended one game for his boarding penalty on Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, who will not play for Boston and is listed as day-to-day.

Sanford will need to add a physical presence to the line with Alexander Steen and Ivan Barbashev, who have been a factor throughout the playoffs with Sundqvist.

"I think so," Sanford said. "That's been a lot of my mentality, trying to get ready and being ready for that physical game. As one of the bigger guys, I need to bring that and be throwing the body around and getting in on the forecheck. If I can do that and help out, I think we can be pretty successful."

The Blues had multiple options, including Mackenzie MacEachern and perhaps two-time Cup winner Jordan Nolan as options for one game, but Blues interim coach Craig Berube chose Sanford.

"Got some experience in the playoffs," Berube said. "He’s a good defensive player, penalty killer. So that was one of the reasons we went with him."

Sanford was born in Salem, Mass., roughly 30-45 minutes from Boston and grew up a Bruins fan as a kid. He said his mother found herself cheering momentarily in Game 2 when the Bruins scored.

"I was even talking to my mom. She was at the games in Boston and she caught herself cheering for the Bruins here and there and had to fix that," Sanford said. "It's pretty crazy how things work out like that, but I'm excited like I said before and it should be fun."

Sanford said the emotions will hit him when he thinks of his dad, Mike, who passed away before the season from a heart attack.

"I think about him every day," Sanford said. "This one's a little different like you said, but it's another thing hopefully I can just turn into some good energy."

- - -

* Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko took part in the optional morning skate after missing practice on Friday due to maintenance reasons. He will play and put an eight-game point streak on the line (five goals, five assists), one off of tying the Blues record.

* Berube confirmed that forward Robert Thomas will not play, missing his second straight game, nor will defenseman Vince Dunn, who hasn't played since Game 3 of the conference final against San Jose. 

* Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed that Grzelcyk will not play tonight and will be replaced by John Moore, who hasn't played since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against Carolina.

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Jaden Schwartz-Brayden Schenn-Vladimir Tarasenko

Sammy Blais-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Robby Fabbri-Tyler Bozak-Pat Maroon

Zach Sanford-Ivan Barbashev-Alexander Steen

Carl Gunnarsson-Alex Pietrangelo

Jay Bouwmeester-Colton Parayko

Joel Edmundson-Robert Bortuzzo

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Jake Allen will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Michael Del Zotto, Mackenzie MacEachern, Chris Thorburn, Chris Butler and Ville Husso. Vince Dunn (upper body) remains day-to-day, and Robert Thomas (wrist) is out. Oskar Sundqvist is suspended for Game 3.

- - -

The Bruins' projected lineup:

Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak

Jake DeBrusk-David Krejci-David Backes

Marcus Johansson-Charlie Coyle-Danton Heinen

Joakim Nordstrom-Sean Kuraly-Noel Acciari

Zdeno Chara-Charlie McAvoy

Torey Krug-Brandon Carlo

John Moore-Connor Clifton

Tuukka Rask will start in goal; Jaroslav Halak will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Steven Kampfer and Karson Kuhlman. Matt Grzelcyk (upper body), Chris Wagner (right arm) and Kevan Miller (lower body) are out.