Series: Blues lead 3-2
Location: Enterprise Center
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET; (NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS)
The St. Louis Blues and it’s fans can win it’s first ever Stanley Cup title tonight. The Blues won the last two games and hope to win the third on home ice. They are 7-1 in Game 5-7 during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
“You don’t want to get too far ahead, but it’s hard not to,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “That’s normal, but our guys have done a good job in the playoffs of focusing on just small things, first periods, things like that, and that’s going to be important tonight.”
The Bruins hope to turn things around and force Game 7. They are 7-3 on the road while the Blues are 6-6 at home.
The top line of Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, and Patrice Bergeron had been shutout on the 5-on-5. They had yet to score on the 5-on-5 in the final series. Head coach Bruce Cassidy believes that his top line looked better in Game 5. The Bruins outshot the Blues 17-8 in the first period of Game 5. They failed to score in the first period and lost 2-1.
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Can anyone stop the @NHLBruins top line? 🤔@pastrnak96 @Bmarch63 #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/AqZE4LixaD
— NHL (@NHL) May 17, 2019
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Bruins forward Karson Kuhlman will be on the second line with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk. Kuhlman has been a healthy scratch for the past 12 games and will fill in for David Backes spot. The Bruins played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in Game 5. Marcus Johansson and Pastrnak double shifted and played in the second-line with DeBrusk and Krejci. Kuhlman can bring in a lot of speed for the Bruins.
#NHLBruins coach Bruce Cassidy discusses tonight’s lineup changes and what he expects from Karson Kuhlman: pic.twitter.com/iZzMQapLFi
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) June 9, 2019
Bruins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk will be out for Game 6. Grzelcyk remains in concussion protocol and hopes to return for Game 7. The Bruins defender scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He hasn’t played since being injured from a hit on the head from Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in Game 2.
John Moore is expected to play in Grzelcyk third-line spot on defense. He will pair with Connor Clifton.
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Decisions, decisions…
What should the @NHLBruins do with their defense for Game Six? #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/C2HZxn0wPd
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 9, 2019
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Blued rookie goalie Jordan Binnington had an incredible Game 5, making 38 saves. The Bruins had trouble with secondary chances from rebounds. There was a lot of pressure on the Blues when Binnington allowed some juicy rebounds. The rookie goaltender is one of the candidates to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP). He tied an NHL Playoff record for most playoffs wins (15) by a rookie goaltender. His journey has been amazing. Heading into Game 6, he has 15 wins, 2.46 Goals Against Average and .913 save percentage.
It’s been an amazing run for @Binnnasty. How will it end?#NHLNow #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/SHKq9CdI2n
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 8, 2019
Blues forward Ivan Barbashev is suspended for Game 6. The NHL Department of Player Safety suspended him for his illegal check to the head of Bruins forward Marcus Johansson in Game 5.
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St. Louis’ Ivan Barbashev will have a hearing today for an Illegal Check to the Head on Boston’s Marcus Johansson.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) June 7, 2019
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Barbashev’s physical presence will be missed in the Blues fourth-line. Sammy Blais will fill in Barbashev’s spot and line up with Oskar Sundqvist and Alexander Steen.
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A physical style of hockey has the @StLouisBlues one win away from the #StanleyCup. #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/E9VxGvgJ1q
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 9, 2019
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Blues forward Robert Thomas will return after missing four games with an upper-body injury. He will be the third-line right wing with center Tyler Bozak and left wing Pat Maroon.
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Thomas is in. #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) June 9, 2019
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Blues projected lineup
Forwards
Jaden Schwartz — Brayden Schenn — Vladimir Tarasenko
Zach Sanford — Ryan O’Reilly — David Perron
Pat Maroon — Tyler Bozak — Robert Thomas
Sammy Blais — Oskar Sundqvist — Alexander Steen
Defense
Carl Gunnarsson — Alex Pietrangelo
Jay Bouwmeester — Colton Parayko
Vince Dunn — Robert Bortuzzo
Starting Goalie
Forwards
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk — David Krejci — Karson Kuhlman
Marcus Johansson — Charlie Coyle — Danton Heinen
Joakim Nordstrom — Sean Kuraly — Noel Acciari
Defense
Zdeno Chara — Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug — Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk — Connor Clifton
John Moore
Starting Goalie
Tuukka Rask
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