FIRING BLANKS
To get past the Stars, Blues need more from their big guns
This isn’t a matter of effort, but the finish hasn’t been there for the St. Louis Blues in this series and that’s why they’ve been pushed to the brink of elimination.
Of course, the elevated play of Dallas Stars goalie
Ben Bishop has been a major factor as the Blues dropped the past two games after taking a 2-1 series edge.
Bishop made 38 saves on Friday in what was his best performance of the series — and arguably the playoffs — as the Blues managed 65 shot attempts.
But running into a hot goalie can be commonplace in the post-season and the teams that advance always find a way to crack the code.
Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko have led the way for the Blues in this series, providing three goals each heading into Game 6 on Sunday at American Airlines Center.
Schwartz is up to seven goals in the playoffs, while Tarasenko has five, including four on the power play.
Blues centre Ryan O’Reilly has involved in a serious battle with Stars pivot Tyler Seguin and his defensive play remains strong.
O’Reilly has scored just once in the nine games since he delivered the game-winning goal in Game 2 of the opening-round series with the Winnipeg Jets, though he did produce six assists during that same span.
Since scoring the tying goal in the Blues 3-2 third-period comeback in Game 5 against the Jets, Brayden Schenn hasn’t scored in six games and has two assists.
David Perron has only one assist this series, though he did manage three shots on goal and five shot attempts in Game 5 — including a shot that beat Bishop during the second period but rattled off the iron.
Although not counted on to score, the Blues fourth line hasn’t been able to chip in since Robby Fabbri supplied the first goal of the series.
The Blues best line so far has been the third unit of Tyler Bozak between Pat Maroon and rookie Robert Thomas.
They’ve given the Stars some trouble down low and come up with some big goals, including the game-winner from Maroon in Game 3.
The Blues have leaned on their depth throughout the second half of the season, when they came back from the abyss, but if they don’t start getting some additional production from their big guns, the season could be over quickly.
“No one of us wants our season to end. It’s win or go home,” Bozak said on Saturday. “We’re going to have our best game. We’re confident on the road. Throughout the playoffs we’ve played our best hockey on the road and felt best on the road. I don’t know why. Can’t give you an answer to that, but we’re not feeling like we’re at a disadvantage by playing on the road.”
Blues goalie Jordan Binnington answered the question about whether or not he had come unglued in Game 4, when he took a roughing minor and a slashing penalty for hitting the stick of Bishop on his way off the ice at the end of the second period.
Binnington made 25 saves on Friday and stopped four breakaways, including a stop with his stick off Stars forward Jason Dickinson during a short-handed breakaway during the second period.
Binnington has done his part and now it’s time to see if the Blues forwards can get their scoring touch back.
The Blues have been in difficult situations before and they’re not about to abandon the structured style of play that got them to this point.
“You’ve got to remember a little bit of where we come from,” said Perron. “There are two ways to look at it: you can take some of the experiences and be excited. There’s a lot of pressure, but it’s also a lot of fun. It’s what we play for.
“In December and November, we felt like we were losing that opportunity. Now we’ve found it again.”
With one road win, the Blues would force a Game 7 back on their home ice.
If you had told the Blues that was the obstacle ahead of them on Jan. 2 — when they sat in last place in the entire NHL — they would have gladly taken it.
Now let’s see what they can do with it.
“Use whatever you need to individually. As a team, we came together really well at that point in the season,” said Binnington, when asked about drawing from the run that started back in January. “Nothing changes, just stick to our game and believe in each other and prepare the same way.
“Adversity is going to happen, your back’s against the wall, there’s a little extra desperation in your step. Don’t overthink it, just play your game.”