Stanley Cup Final goes to Game 7
Bruins turn up offense to tie series
ST. LOUIS – With the Blues and Bruins headed to the NHL’s first Stanley Cup Final Game 7 since 2011, it feels as if it were meant to be.
In Game 1, it seemed as if the series could go either way.
Now with the series headed to Boston for a decisive game Wednesday in TD Garden, it still seems like it could go either way.
“Listen, if you told me four months ago we were going to be in the Finals in Game 7, I think I’d take it,” Blues coach Craig Berube said.
The Bruins downed the Blues 5-1 in Game 6 on Sunday on the strength of goalie Tuukka Rask’s 28 saves. They denied St. Louis a chance to celebrate its first Stanley Cup championship in 52 years on home ice.
One point was reinforced in Boston’s Game 6 victory: Rask is the team’s clearcut MVP.
“He just steps up when it matters and we have all the faith in the world in him,” Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy said.
Rask has a 1.98 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage this postseason. When the Bruins have needed a big save, that save percentage is probably even higher.
“He’s been at his best for a while now,” Bruins center Patrice Bergeron said.
The Blues gave Rask some credit, but they also believe they didn’t pressure him the way they can and should. The Blues are already laying out their strategy for Game 7.
“Take a look at it,” Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. “I think we can make life a little harder on him.”
Ryan O’Reilly, who had the Blues’ goal, said they didn’t do a quality job shooting the puck in Game 6.
“I had a couple of chances and didn’t put them where I wanted to,” he said. “I have to put the puck into an area and make it tough on him. We have to do a better job of screening.”
The Blues will have two days to refine that strategy against Rask.
At one point, the Bruins led this series 2-1 and then the Blues led 3-2. The Final has been so close that everything matters, including pregame speeches. The Bruins said Bergeron made a good one before Game 6.
“He’s a legend,” Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk said. “We’re here for a reason and everyone who plays hockey grows up and dreams of playing in this moment, and it was pretty much something around those lines. To see him set the tone that way made us want to run through a wall.”
Neither team is afraid of a Game 7. The Bruins had to win one in the opening round to get past the Maple Leafs. The Blues defeated the Stars in a double overtime Game 7 to reach the Western Conference final.
“We’ve been a good road team,” Berube said. “We’ve won twice up there in this series, so we’re a confident group.”
Wednesday will be the first time a Boston team has hosted a Game 7 of a championship series since the Celtics beat the Lakers in 1984.
“Game 7 is special,” DeBrusk said. “It’s what every fan wants to see.”
It has seemed like we were headed to a Game 7 from the moment the series started.