GDT Rd 1 Gm 6: 8/21/20 | 8:45 PM CT | @ Canucks | NBCSN/FSMW/101ESPN

[theohall]

The defending Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues find themselves on the brink of elimination heading into Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round matchup with the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.

St. Louis trails the best-of-seven series 3-2 after blowing a 3-1 second-period lead in a 4-3 loss on Wednesday night at Rogers Place in Edmonton.

However, the Blues rebounded from a similar position in the second round of last year's playoffs against the Dallas Stars. They moved on to defeat the San Jose Sharks in the Western finals and later captured Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final 4-1 at Boston to hoist the coveted trophy.

"We've got to use our experience from last year," St. Louis forward Jaden Schwartz said. "We've been here before. Just got to rest up (Thursday). Going to look at a few things and get ready for Game 6. That's all we've got to focus on is get our energy and look at some adjustments we can make."

It looked as if the Blues were well on their way to taking a 3-2 series lead when Zach Sanford's power-play goal at the 5:51 mark of the second period gave them a 3-1 lead. But Jacob Markstrom kept the Canucks in it with a handful of big saves, and Vancouver scored three goals in the span of 6:23 near the end of the period to pull out the victory.

"Honestly, I think it was close to getting out of hand," Vancouver center J.T. Miller, who started the comeback with his fifth goal of the playoffs, told the Vancouver Sun. "We were turning pucks over. I felt like they were tilting the ice."

But inspired by Markstrom's play, including one stop on a point-blank shot by Robert Thomas, it was Vancouver that quickly tilted the ice the other way.

"We had a couple chances to make it 4-1, and obviously we didn't," Blues forward Brayden Schenn said. "Fell asleep there for 10, 15 minutes of that period. Quit moving our feet. Quit playing hard in our own D-zone. Made some mistakes, and before you knew it, it was 4-3."

St. Louis coach Craig Berube, "You've got to play for 60 minutes, and we didn't do that tonight, and we lost the game because of it."

And put themselves one more loss away from elimination.

"Obviously, today is frustrating, but we've got a resilient group and guys have been here before," Schwartz said. "Get ready for that next game. That's all were worried about."

"We haven't done anything yet," said Markstrom, who finished with 36 saves. "We've got to recharge our batteries and come ready to play because it's going to hurt and (Game 6 is) going to be a tough game."

Berube, who benched last year's playoff star, Jordan Binnington, in favor of Jake Allen after falling behind 2-0 in the series, was asked if he might make a switch back to Binnington for Game 6. Allen had 26 saves Wednesday but allowed a bad-angle goal to Jake Virtanen that tied it.

"We think all our players can play well," Berube said. "That's the best way I can put it to you."

"(Allen) was fine," Berube added. "I think he'd want the one goal back from the side of the net maybe."

Two other goals by Vancouver fourth-line center Tyler Motte, including one that was short-handed, came after defensive breakdowns.

"Motte walked in twice and scored on breakaways basically," Berube said. "So, Jake wasn't the problem."

Berube said Thursday that he still hadn't made up his mind who would start in goal on Friday night.

[WaukeeBlues]

We shouldn't be here.

Spotted the Canucks 2 games because didn't have our legs or heads right. Find our game, play way better in game 3, win. Dominate game 4 win. On the way to dominating Game 5, and for the first time in the playoffs since... I don't know when, they had a game by the balls and got complacent.

We should be up 3-2. This is stupid we're even in this position.

Win or go home. Pretty simple. Can't take the foot off the gas.

[gaijin]

Win or go home. Pretty simple. Can't take the foot off the gas.

That's pretty much it. Don't suck.

[flyingnote38]

Win or go home.

ok I pick, win

also if the Blues could score about 10 goals in the first that'd be great thanks

[gaijin]

WTF was that?

[flyingnote38]

luck still going Canucks way

[gaijin]

Blues PP upcoming.

[flyingnote38]

need to score on this PP
and not let the nucks score

[Robb_K]

The Blues really need to tie it up on this power play. That might boost their confidence and give them more energy. They have been chasing The Canucks and the puck all period, so far.

[Portland Blues]

This just doesn't have the feeling of last year. Seems like the mojo went away.

[gaijin]

Blues looked out of sync on the PP. Not many quality chances.

[gaijin]

Blues back to the PP. Let's get one here.

[Robb_K]

The Blues really need to tie it up on THIS power play. Maybe that will give them enough energy to start being able to get out of their own zone and skate and pass the puck through the Neutral Zone and into The -O-Zone!

[flyingnote38]

not looking very promising so far

[Robb_K]

A really lousy 1st Period considering they're playing in an elimination game. I'm not feeling good about this. It's tough to get the puck by Markström. It looks like another one of those games where they'll have to have twice the good chances as the other team, to come out ahead.

[theohall]

Blues ran the backwards PP (Schenn on the left, Perron on the right) which never scores.... I have no idea why the Blues coaching staff seems to think this is a good idea, since it hasn't scored one PPG vs the Canucks. The PP with Perron on the left has scored 2 PPGs in this series in it's extremely limited opportunities. PP coaching could cost the Blues this series with them trying to be too ****ing cute looking for passing plays instead of shooting plays.

[theohall]

And just to pile on.... During the regular season, the PP with Perron on the left was the 3rd best PP in the NHL? Why not continue with that???? It makes no dang sense to stop doing that!!!

[theohall]

And just to pile on.... During the regular season, the PP with Perron on the left was the 3rd best PP in the NHL? Why not continue with that???? It makes no dang sense to stop doing that!!!

[Portland Blues]

First period impression (to me) is they feel good they won last year so this year is kind of a an "Eh" by the team. They appear ok with going back home and having more time off.

[Portland Blues]

Weak ass goal.