ZCZC
BSP-07
IHOCKEY-NHL
Blues one win away from Stanley Cup crown after win over Bruins
LOS ANGELES, June 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The St Louis Blues are one victory
away from their first Stanley Cup triumph after beating the Bruins 2-1 in
Boston on Thursday in game five of the NHL’s best-of-seven championship
series.
The Blues lead the series 3-2 and can lift the Stanley Cup with a victory
in St. Louis on Sunday — when the Bruins will try to force a game seven back
in Boston.
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 38 of 39 shots and tied the NHL
record for most wins by a rookie goalie in a single playoffs with his 15th.
Ryan O’Reilly put the Blues up 1-0 55 seconds into the second period and he
assisted on the goal by David Perron with 9:24 remaining in the third that
made it 2-0.
Boston protested Perron’s goal and fans were enraged after the play began
with Tyler Bozak gaining control of the puck by taking the legs out from
under Noel Acciari.
With Acciari down on the ice Perron banked in the insurance goal off of
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, and Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy called the non-call
of a tripping foul “egregious”.
The Bruins pulled within 2-1 with 6:28 remaining when Jake DeBrusk scored
on a slapshot.
O’Reilly scored his third goal in two games when he finished off a pass
from Zach Sanford that went through Sanford’s legs — and those of defender
Charlie McAvoy also.
O’Reilly controled the puck with one touch and put a backhander past Rask,
who made 10 saves for the Bruins.
In front of their home fans and coming off a game-four defeat, the Bruins
were also boosted by the return of captain Zdeno Chara — who took a puck to
the face in game four and didn’t finish the game.
They came out firing, but Binnington was up to the challenge and the Blues,
back in the Stanley Cup final for the first time since they were swept by the
same Bruins in 1970, are one win away from the crown.
BSS/AFP/RY/11:00 hrs