Jaden Schwartz scored his first goal of the series at 13:22 of the third period to give his team a 3-2 victory. St. Louis takes a 2-1 series lead into Tuesday’s Game 4 in Chicago.
The Chicago penalty kill has suffered throughout the season and in Sunday’s game it reared its ugly head. Two power play goals in three chances were scored by the Blues, including the game winner.
The St. Louis penalty kill, especially goalie Brian Elliott was an even bigger key to victory. After allowing an early goal, the Blues killed the final three Chicago man advantages. Elliott finished the game with 44 saves.
Brent Seabrook’s power play point shot went through the legs of a jumping Andrew Ladd and past goalie Elliott at 2:18 of the first period. It gave the home team a 1-0 lead before the fans had even settled into their seats following the raucous anthem.
The Blues capitalized as soon as they had their chance with a power play. Colton Parayko received the won draw and his slap shot deflected off he stick of Tomas Flieschmann and past Corey Crawford.
Chicago came out with early period intensity in the second. After a flurry of activity inside the Blues zone, Artem Anismov gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead, ironically, off a lost draw. Paul Stastny won the draw against Artemi Panarin, but Panarin stole the puck from Parayko and in one motion delivered a perfect backhand deliver to Anisimov.
Patrik Berglund tied the game when his innocent looking shot deflected of Michal Rozsival’s right skate. Berglund was looking to throw the puck on net from the blue line with his team finishing a change.
The true heroes of the middle period were the goaltenders. Both faced moments under siege. Crawford robs Lehtera at the 5:30 mark with a glove save. The Blues continued to pepper the net forcing the goalie to make another handful of saves over the next minute.
On the other side of the ice, Elliott was busier throughout and up to the task. Chicago generated 24 shots in the second. With Ladd alone at the bottom of the circle Elliott came up big, deflecting the puck with his blocker before it hit both posts and stayed out of the net.
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