ST. LOUIS, MO – Any game between the Blues and the Blackhawks is a highly anticipated affair, but a Game Seven adds even more excitement. This year’s tilt proved worthy of not only a great game, but a sensational ending. The deciding goal from an unlikely source acquired in the off-season for a fan favorite, whose season also continues to the second round, but in the Eastern Conference.
After coming up far short of post-season success the last four years, the St. Louis Blues defeated the defending Stanley Cup Champions 3-2. The Blues now face the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. The Blackhawks advance to contemplate to what might have been a fourth Stanley Cup since 2010.
It was the Blues first series victory since 2012 when they defeated the San Jose Sharks in five games and their 7th Game Seven victory in the team’s history. The Blues last won a Game Seven on home ice in 1991 against the Detroit Red Wings. Additionally, it was the first time in their 49-year history the Blues defeated the Stanley Cup Champions.
The atmosphere was fever pitch from the opening draw and it did not take long to gain the home edge. Just one minute into the opening period and after a flurry around Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford, Blues forward Jaden Schwartz fed the back to the left where Jay Bouwmeester was waiting. He laid into a shot on goal which Jori Lehtera deflected past Crawford’s stick side to give the home team an early lead. The goal ignited the crowd, giving the Blues just what they needed after surrendering the 3-1 series lead.
A little less than thirteen minutes later, St. Louis added to their lead. Deep in the Chicago zone, Alex Steen finessed the puck to Patrik Berglund. Atop the circle, Berglund sent it to a waiting Colton Parayko who fired a shot toward Crawford who just got a piece of it off his right toe, but not enough to prevent the threat. The Blues rookie defenseman gave the home team a 2-0 and seemed to gain quite the advantage.
But it would not last. Just less than five minutes later, Marian Hossa accepted a cross ice pass from Richard Panik. Hossa corralled the puck and glided over the St. Louis line. With Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson screening goaltender Brian Elliott, Hossa sent a drive which eluded the glove of the netminder and hit twice to narrow Chicago’s deficit to 2-1.
Chicago took that momentum to add their goal count just more than three minutes into the middle frame. With Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk off for hooking Marcus Kruger, Andrew Shaw finished off a passing play from Duncan Keith and Jonathan Toews with a shot which deflected off Bouwmeester’s right shin pad and past Elliott for the equalizer.
The game stayed knotted until 8:31 left in the final period. After a Chicago turnover in the neutral zone by defenseman Erik Gustafsson, brought on my rookie Robby Fabbri, the Blues went to work. Paul Stastny followed the puck into the zone, finding Fabbri back into the play on the far side. The nifty passing play was topped off with Troy Brouwer, taking Fabbri’s pass from the top of the crease. Brouwer’s initial tip attempt struck the right post before he fanned on the second attempt. A third attempt, a backhand, slid the puck past Crawford and into the open net to give the Blues the 3-2.
Anxious moments followed late in the game when Chicago relentlessly pounded the St. Louis net, hitting both post on one shot before an eventual game-saving clear by Alex Pietrangelo.
For Troy Brouwer, it capped a season which saw him come to St. Louis in exchange for fan favorite T.J. Oshie in the Summer. Brouwer provided the needed muscle on offense to create room for the smaller, but skilled offensive threats. Brouwer’s 18 goals were third on the team in the regular season. But none of them were as big as the game-winner in this game, dismissing the Blackhawks to a premature end to their once promising campaign.
Key differences in the series were St. Louis holding Chicago superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to just one goal. Kane had the overtime winner in Game 5. Elliott outdueling Crawford also stands high in giving the Blues an edge they struggled to meet.
St. Louis faces Dallas in the next round. The top scoring Dallas team, averaging 3.23 goals per game in the regular season (3.50 goals per game in the playoffs), face the fourth-best defensive regular season team in the Blues which held opponents to just 2.40 goals per game.
Dallas, which has endured goaltending troubles all season, including the playoffs, has allowed 2.78 goals per game in the regular season, good for 19th overall. They have allowed 2.83 in their six playoffs games.
The Blues ranked 15th overall in the regular season, scoring 2.67 goals per game and currently hold the 7th spot in the post season among 16 teams scoring 2.71 goals per game.
The schedule for the series involving the Blues and Stars will be released once the winner in the series between Anaheim and Nashville is determined. The Predators defeated the Ducks 3-1 to send the series back to Anaheim for Game Seven on Wednesday, April 27th. The San Jose Sharks await the winner.
Follow me on Twitter at DMMORRELL and you can contact me at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com
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