DALLAS, TX – Game Four represented an opportunity for the St. Louis Blues to take a stranglehold on the series. A victory would have put the 2nd best team in the Western Conference ahead 3-1 in the series. But the Dallas Stars had other ideas wresting away an evenly-played battle with a 3-2 overtime victory. St. Louis just had to wait a few more nights to get the control they sought. Their victory in Game Five and a chance to clinch the series at home is now upon them.
Robby Fabbri and Paul Stasnty each had a goal and an assist, and Brian Elliott made 27 saves to help the St. Louis Blues defeat the Dallas Stars 4-1 at American Airlines Center on Saturday afternoon Dmitrij Jaskon, playing his first game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scored the game-winner midway through the second period. Troy Brouwer also scored for St. Louis, which won for the second time on Dallas ice to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.
Just six minutes into the game, Robby Fabbri got the Blues on the board first when he received a pass from defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk from the right point and then attempted a centering pass to Troy Brouwer on the far ppost. The puck glanced off the skate of Dallas’ Brett Ritchie and into the net to give the road team the lead.
About five minutes later and with intense pressure in the St. Louis zone, Dallas tied it. Vernon Fiddler found himself with the puck just off the side boards and after luring the St. Louis defense toward him, dished the puck off. Alex Goligoski took the pass high in the slot and sliced a shot past the glove of Blues’ goaltender Brian Elliott. It was his fourth of the playoffs.
The penalty-free period ended with Dallas leading in shots 10-8.
St. Louis arrived for the middle frame with a bit more jump in their attack. Just after the midpoint of the period, Dmitrij Jaskin, playing in place of bruising forward Ryan Reaves, put the Blues ahead. The Blues, with what was perhaps their best shift of the game up to the point, were buzzing the Dallas zone. Blues winger Scottie Upshall pulled the puck off the side boards and slid a backhand pass to Jay Bouwmeester. He found a Jaskin in the slot. Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen got his right toe on Jaskin’s drive, but left up the rebound for Jaskin to deposit into the goal for the 2-1 lead. It was a fitting way to put a mark on his first NHL playoff game.
And the Blues were not done. With a little more than two minutes to play in the period, Troy Brouwer netted his fourth of the playoffs. Robby Fabbri found Paul Stastny across the ice and to the side of the net with a pass. Lehtonen stopped Stastny’s initial drive, but the rebound came to Brouwer who fired it into the open side to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.
The period ended with a notable edge in shots for the Blues at 11-6 in the second consecutive penalty-free period.
Dallas pressured in the third period to get close, but none of their 12 shots found the back of the bet. Dallas had several power play opportunities, but sits in a 1 for 19 slump with the man advantage. Paul Stastny put the game away with under two minutes to play when he potted an empty net goal.
Blue goalie Brian Elliott finished with 27 saves on 28 shots while his teammates directed 22 shots on the Dallas net.
Game Six will be played at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports 2). The Blues will try to reach the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2001 and just the sixth time in their 49-year history. If necessary, game Seven will be played in Dallas on Wednesday, May 11th (time and networks to be determined).
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