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Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:44 am
by theohall
With their backs against the wall, the St. Louis Blues delivered. Facing a 3-0 deficit in the second period on the brink of elimination, the Blues mounted a historic comeback to take Game 5 in Colorado and keep their season going.

The line of Pavel Buchnevich, Robert Thomas and Vladimir Tarasenko totalled six points on the night (including all three on Thomas' late equalizer). The line, that saw incredible success during the regular season, has had a slow start to the playoffs but were able to break through Monday night when needed most.

Though a scoring adjustment reassigned one away from him, Nick Leddy gave a standout performance, recording a playoff career-high three assists as the Blues won the overtime thriller.

While Monday's win was crucial, the work is not done. With a postseason record of 2-3 (.400) at Enterprise Center, the Blues will need to be as strong of a home team as they were in the regular season (26-10-5, .695) in order to keep the series alive.

"Obviously, we want to use this as momentum," said Tyler Bozak after scoring the game winner in OT. "But at the same time, they're a really good hockey team over there, we know they're gonna push, and we're gonna have to be at our best if we want to beat them."

NOTEWORTHY STATS
-When trailing 3-2 in a best-of-7 series, the Blues hold an all-time series record of 4-21 (.160), though it improves to 2-8 (.200) when starting the series on the road.

-The Blues became the first team in NHL history to score two game-tying goals in the final five minutes of an elimination game, forcing overtime for the eventual win.

-The Game 5 win marked the second time in franchise history that the Blues erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to win an elimination game.

THEY SAID IT
"We had nothing to lose, so we threw it all out there - we had some chances early, but not good enough. We just kept at it, and I think that's the whole story for our team in that game. Just keep at it, keep working, and find a way." - Robert Thomas after Game 5

"We gotta go get this done. It should make our team a little harder, a little grittier in these situations. You can't win every series in four or five (games) - they have a great team and we're excited to go have a huge challenge in St. Louis to try to close out this series." - Nathan MacKinnon after Game 5

BLUE NOTES
The Blues are one of two teams (joining Edmonton) with four players at six or more goals this posteason - David Perron (9), Ryan O'Reilly (7), Jordan Kyrou (6), Vladimir Tarasenko (6)... Nick Leddy became the 12th defenseman in Blues history to post three assists in a playoff game... Tarasenko secured third place all-time in posteason points as a Blue, reaching 60 on his career after a goal and an assist in Game 5. He also became the second player in Blues history to reach 40 career playoff goals, joining Brett Hull... With two in Game 5, Robert Thomas now shares fourth all-time in franchise goals scored in an elimination game.
After OT win, Blues look to hold off Avalanche, elimination

After failing to dispatch the St. Louis Blues at home in Game 5, the Colorado Avalanche will try to clinch their second-round series Friday night on the road.

The Avalanche lead the series 3-2 and aim to advance to the Western Conference final for the first time since 2002.

The Blues forced the series back to their home ice at Enterprise Center for Game 6 by rallying from 3-0 and 4-3 deficits to win 5-4 in overtime and keep their postseason alive.

"It's starting to look like you're either the hammer or the nail in the series, so we have to go and be the hammer," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "We have to keep moving forward and pressing and forcing them into mistakes. But it starts with the competitiveness and the puck decisions. As the game went on, (the Blues) had a little bit extra in the battle, we didn't, and our puck decisions were not good."

Vladimir Tarasenko started the Blues' comeback with a second-period goal. St. Louis stepped up its pressure in the third period and tied the game on goals by Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou.

"It's just character and leadership," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "We've got a lot of character in that room, we all know that. This team has come from behind quite a bit this year in games, so they don't give up. You've just got to keep playing and keep battling and they did that. That's all on them."

Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon appeared to clinch the series with a spectacular end-to-end scoring rush with 2:46 left in regulation to complete his hat trick. But the Blues pulled goaltender Ville Husso and scored 6-on-5 with Thomas' rebound conversion with 56 seconds remaining.

"It was an amazing hockey game," said Blues forward Tyler Bozak. "Obviously, MacKinnon's one of the best players in the league and makes plays in crucial moments and did it there. But we have great leadership on our team. We have a lot of guys who have won before. We knew there was still lots of time. The guys got it done and got us to overtime and then it's anybody's game when you get there."

Sure enough, Bozak scored the game-winning goal.

"The third period, they did a good job of keeping pucks in and we got a little bit sloppy with some of our clears," Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog said. "It's desperation mode for them, they're throwing pucks to the net, rebounds are laying there and they're outnumbering us at the net, simple as that. But, you know, we've got a short memory and move on."

The Avalanche plan is to regain the form they demonstrated while winning Games 3 and 4 in St. Louis by the combined score of 11-5.

"We got to move on like Gabe said and come back and win Game 6 on the road," MacKinnon said. "It's a fun opportunity for us. Hopefully everything happens for a reason, and we've got to go get this done. But it should make our team a little harder, a little more grittier in these situations. Can't win every series in four and five. They have a great team, and we're excited to go have a huge challenge in St. Louis and try to close out a series."

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 9:22 am
by theohall
Don't know if anyone noticed, but 4 of the 5 Blues goals in Game 4 - the puck was below the Avs goal line during the shift when the Blues scored. The only exception was Buchnevich to Thomas when the Avs got caught on a bad change and gave Buchnevich a clean entry. Keep putting the pucks deep and making the Avs defend. Do not dump the puck towards an Avs defenseman - they are too damn good at stick and puck handling and will take it and head the other way. Just put it to the corner where they aren't and forecheck. They will make the same kind of mistakes the Blues have made when the Avs pressure the Blues. Bednar in his comments above - "our puck decisions were not good." Sound familiar?

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 2:14 pm
by gaijin
theohall wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 9:22 am
Don't know if anyone noticed, but 4 of the 5 Blues goals in Game 4 - the puck was below the Avs goal line during the shift when the Blues scored. The only exception was Buchnevich to Thomas when the Avs got caught on a bad change and gave Buchnevich a clean entry. Keep putting the pucks deep and making the Avs defend. Do not dump the puck towards an Avs defenseman - they are too damn good at stick and puck handling and will take it and head the other way. Just put it to the corner where they aren't and forecheck. They will make the same kind of mistakes the Blues have made when the Avs pressure the Blues. Bednar in his comments above - "our puck decisions were not good." Sound familiar?
I can't say I would have come up with it on my own, but now that you mention it, it does become obvious.

Hopefully they can do more of it tonight. :letsgoblues: :goblues: :letsgoblues:

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 4:28 pm
by theohall
:blues: :goblues: :letsgoblues: :goblues: :letsgoblues: :goblues: :blues:

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 4:40 pm
by Portland Blues
theohall wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 4:28 pm
:blues: :goblues: :letsgoblues: :goblues: :letsgoblues: :goblues: :blues:
:goodpost: :goodpost:

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 6:54 pm
by Portland Blues
Great to end the first up 1 but maybe we can win a few more faceoffs going forward.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 6:56 pm
by theohall
Another Blues goal where the puck was below the Avs goal line on the scoring shift.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 6:57 pm
by flyingnote38
goal!
1-0 after 1st

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 6:57 pm
by theohall
Portland Blues wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 6:54 pm
Great to end the first up 1 but maybe we can win a few more faceoffs going forward.
I don't think Thomas won any? So 100% agreed.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:06 pm
by ibldbl
Make an adjustment and play in their zone. So far in this series, scoring the first goal has not been good.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:19 pm
by flyingnote38
that was a gift from us to them

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:21 pm
by ibldbl
Total suck so far in the second. 1 - 1

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:23 pm
by Portland Blues
The Blues need to stop waiting until the final minute of each period to actually "try" and win. :doh:

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:27 pm
by Portland Blues
Kyrou! :banana:

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:30 pm
by ibldbl
Kyrou from Schenn on a 2 on 1. 2 - 1.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:31 pm
by flyingnote38
theohall wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 6:56 pm
Another Blues goal where the puck was below the Avs goal line on the scoring shift.
unfortunately the aves goal started with us having possession below our goal line

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:46 pm
by Portland Blues
flyingnote38 wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 7:31 pm
theohall wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 6:56 pm
Another Blues goal where the puck was below the Avs goal line on the scoring shift.
unfortunately the aves goal started with us having possession below our goal line
That was brutal.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:46 pm
by flyingnote38
wow
puck following kyrou around

autocorrect wants to change kyrou to Myron LOL

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:50 pm
by theohall
flyingnote38 wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 7:31 pm
theohall wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 6:56 pm
Another Blues goal where the puck was below the Avs goal line on the scoring shift.
unfortunately the aves goal started with us having possession below our goal line
Yep. Good forechecks force mistakes. It's that flipping simple. Ask Connor McJesus who scored the GWG last night off of a puck he dumped to the corner.

Re: Rd 2 Gm 6 vs Avalanche | 7:00 pm CT | TNT, 101 ESPN

Posted: Fri May 27, 2022 7:51 pm
by theohall
flyingnote38 wrote:
Fri May 27, 2022 7:46 pm
wow
puck following kyrou around

autocorrect wants to change kyrou to Myron LOL
just add Kyrou to your dictionary.