The final set of games of the NHL season is here, as the Boston Bruins take on the St. Louis Blues for the Stanley Cup.
Game 1: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Tuukka Rask for the Bruins and Jordan Binnington for the Blues. St. Louis started in the first period with a Brayden Schenn goal, his third of the postseason, via Jaden Schwartz and Jay Bouwmeester. The Blues added on in the second period with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his ninth of the playoffs, guided in by Schenn. Boston got on the board with a Connor Clifton goal, his second of the postseason, coming off of Sean Kuraly and Joakim Nordstrom. The Bruins tied it on an unassisted power play goal by Charlie McAvoy, his second of the playoffs. Boston took the lead in the third period with a Kuraly goal, his third of the postseason, helped along by Noel Acciari and Zdeno Chara. The Bruins iced it at 4-2 with a Brad Marchand empty net goal, his eighth of the playoffs, going in unassisted. The three stars were Kuraly, McAvoy, and Schenn. The Bruins own a 1-0 series lead to start the series.
Game 2: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Tuukka Rask for the Bruins and Jordan Binnington for the Blues. Boston opened in the first period with a Charlie Coyle power play goal, his seventh of the postseason, powered by Jake DeBrusk and David Pastrnak. St. Louis tied it on a Robert Bortuzzo goal, his second of the playoffs, guided in by Tyler Bozak and Carl Gunnarsson. The Bruins pulled ahead with a Joakim Nordstrom goal, his third of the postseason, via Sean Kuraly. The Blues tied it again with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his tenth of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Jaden Schwartz. St. Louis won 3-2 in overtime with a Gunnarsson goal, fueled by Ryan O'Reilly and Oskar Sundqvist. The three stars were Gunnarsson, Tarasenko, and Bortuzzo. The series heads west tied at 1 game apiece.
Game 3: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Jordan Binnington for the Blues and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins. Boston led off in the first period with a Patrice Bergeron power play goal, his ninth of the postseason, powered by Torey Krug and Jake DeBrusk. The Bruins added on with a Charlie Coyle goal, his eighth of the playoffs, via Marcus Johansson and Danton Heinen. Boston extended the lead as Sean Kuraly scored his fourth of the postseason, thanks to Joakim Nordstrom. The Bruins padded the lead in the second period with a David Pastrnak power play goal, his eighth of the playoffs, with assists provided by Krug and Bergeron. St. Louis got on the board with an Ivan Barbashev goal, his third of the postseason, passed from Zach Sanford and Alexander Steen. Boston replied on a Krug power play goal, his second of the playoffs, fueled by Brad Marchand and Bergeron. The Blues got one back with a Colton Parayko power play goal in the third period, his second of the postseason, guided in by Ryan O'Reilly and Tyler Bozak. The Bruins countered with a Noel Acciari empty net goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Nordstrom and Coyle. Boston iced it at 7-2 with a Johansson power play goal, his fourth of the postseason, with helpers from Krug and Connor Clifton. The three stars were Krug, Bergeron, and Johansson, while Coyle and Nordstrom get the honorable mentions. The Bruins retook the series lead at 2-1.
Game 4: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Jordan Binnington for the Blues and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins. St. Louis began in the first period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his fourth of the postseason, courtesy of Zach Sanford and Vince Dunn. Boston tied it on a Charlie Coyle goal, his ninth of the playoffs, guided in by Zdeno Chara. The Blues retook the lead with a Vladimir Tarasenko goal, his eleventh of the postseason, via Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden Schenn. The Bruins tied it in the second period with a Brandon Carlo shorthanded goal, set up by Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. St. Louis regained the lead on another O'Reilly goal in the third period, his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, fueled by Pietrangelo and Carl Gunnarsson. The Blues iced it at 4-2 with a Schenn empty net goal, his fourth of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars were O'Reilly, Pietrangelo, and Schenn. The series heads back to Boston tied at 2 games apiece.
Game 5: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Tuukka Rask for the Bruins and Jordan Binnington for the Blues. St. Louis got going in the second period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his sixth of the postseason, via Zach Sanford and Alex Pietrangelo. The Blues added on in the third period with a David Perron goal, his seventh of the playoffs, made possible by O'Reilly. Boston got on the board with a Jake DeBrusk goal, his fourth of the postseason, fueled by Torey Krug. This only made it 2-1, the final, with the three stars being Binnington (38 for 39 in saves), O'Reilly, and Perron. The Blues head home with a 3-2 series lead and two chances to clinch the Stanley Cup.
Game 6: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, Missouri. In goal: Jordan Binnington for the Blues and Tuukka Rask for the Bruins. Boston struck first in the first period with a Brad Marchand power play goal, his ninth of the postseason, powered by David Pastrnak and Torey Krug. The Bruins added on with a Brandon Carlo goal in the third period, his second of the playoffs, with a lone assist by Jake DeBrusk. Boston extended the lead as Karson Kuhlman scored, thanks to David Krejci. St. Louis got on the board with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his seventh of the postseason, made possible by Alex Pietrangelo and David Perron. The Bruins countered with a Pastrnak goal, his ninth of the playoffs, via Marchand and Sean Kuraly. Boston iced it at 5-1 with an empty net goal by Zdeno Chara, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. The three stars were Pastrnak, Marchand, and Rask (28 for 29 in saves). The series returns to Boston for the final game of the season, with the Stanley Cup Finals tied at 3.
Game 7: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. In goal: Tuukka Rask for the Bruins and Jordan Binnington for the Blues. St. Louis was first to score in the first period with a Ryan O'Reilly goal, his eighth of the postseason, via Jay Bouwmeester and Alex Pietrangelo. The Blues added on with a Pietrangelo goal, his third of the playoffs, guided in by Jaden Schwartz. St. Louis extended the lead in the third period as Brayden Schenn scored his fifth of the postseason, coming off of Vladimir Tarasenko and Schwartz. The Blues padded the lead on a Zach Sanford goal, made possible by David Perron and O'Reilly. Boston got on the board with a Matt Grzelcyk goal, his fourth of the playoffs, fueled by David Krejci. This only made it 4-1, the final, with the three stars given to Binnington (32 for 33 in saves), O'Reilly, and Pietrangelo, while Schwartz gets an honorable mention. The Blues won the Stanley Cup on a 4-3 series win, with Ryan O'Reilly named the Conn Smythe winner.
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0. MLS and NWSL coverage will continue throughout the summer, and expect to see NHL coverage return in October, time permitting.
