Rd 1 Gm 4 vs Avalanche | 4:00 pm CT | NBCSN, BSMW, 101 ESPN

[theohall]

The St. Louis Blues will be facing elimination Sunday when they host the Colorado Avalanche for Game 4 of their first-round matchup (4 p.m., BSMW, NBCSN, 101 ESPN).

Tyler Bozak scored a shorthanded goal on Friday in Game 3, but the Blues dropped a 5-1 decision to the Avalanche in the first playoff game at Enterprise Center since Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on June 9, 2019.

"I liked the game in general. I thought we competed really hard," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said after Game 3. "I thought we had a ton of looks and offensive zone time. Got to score more… We got a good first period. Our team was ready to go. Our team didn't get down off that first goal (by Colorado). We've been though this before this year throughout the season. We know we can come back."

"I don't think the score represents the way the game went," Bozak added after Game 3. "I thought we created more than we have in the first two games. I thought we sustained a lot more time in the offensive zone and I thought we limited them a little bit, too."

On Saturday, Berube said it was doubtful that Justin Faulk (upper-body) and Robert Bortuzzo (upper-body) would play in Game 4. Jake Walman, who is no longer on the League's COVID protocol, is a possibility for Sunday.

"It's do-or-die time," Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly said. "We have to come together and find a way here. It's not gonna be easy, but our focus is on the next game."

THEY SAID IT
"I was on a team in Philadelphia when we were down 3-0 to Boston and we came back and beat them in the series. It can be done." - Craig Berube, on facing a 3-0 deficit

"Just take it a game at a time. If we get that win (Sunday), then I think the momentum flips and we gain some confidence as a group." - Robert Thomas, on whether Blues can come back to win

BLUE NOTES
The Blues recorded 46 hits in Game 3, which was their fourth-highest total in a postseason game since 2006… Jordan Binnington made his 34th career playoff start on Friday, which tied Greg Millen for second-most in Blues history… Kyle Clifford was on the last team that overcame a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series (Los Angeles Kings, 2014). Berube accomplished the feat as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.

[Portland Blues]

Not a lot to be excited about in regards to the game today. Really just looking forward to next season and a fresh start.

But...

[JCShutout]

Glad it’s an early game. Lgb!

[glen a richter]

"It can be done" doesn't mean it will be done,. This just ain't the same team that won it all. This is a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 2019 and it's time to take a good look at the roster top to bottom.

Emblematic of the overall "shell of their former selves" is Tarasenko, I really have to question if all the shoulder problems have done some permanent damage to his overall game. Outside of 2019, Jordan Binnington has been good not great, The defense is clearly not the same defense from the Cup year. I, personally, have zero problem with blowing it all up and starting over... get the rebuild started so we can be looking at a serious contender in three or four years. All I know is I remember, just as well as everyone else here, a team that made the playoffs every damn season and disappointed every damn season. 2019 was an amazing run but it's also the past. The captain is gone, Bouw is gone, Steener's gone, Maroon who had arguably the biggest goal in team history is gone, Tarasenko isn't himself, Binnington isn't himself. Start the reset now, it was inevitable and I'd rather see a few crap years than another few decades of 1st or 2nd round exits from a middling team and we look back in 2049 and say damn, its been 30 years already?

[Portland Blues]

"It can be done" doesn't mean it will be done,. This just ain't the same team that won it all. This is a team that hasn't won a playoff game since 2019 and it's time to take a good look at the roster top to bottom.

Emblematic of the overall "shell of their former selves" is Tarasenko, I really have to question if all the shoulder problems have done some permanent damage to his overall game. Outside of 2019, Jordan Binnington has been good not great, The defense is clearly not the same defense from the Cup year. I, personally, have zero problem with blowing it all up and starting over... get the rebuild started so we can be looking at a serious contender in three or four years. All I know is I remember, just as well as everyone else here, a team that made the playoffs every damn season and disappointed every damn season. 2019 was an amazing run but it's also the past. The captain is gone, Bouw is gone, Steener's gone, Maroon who had arguably the biggest goal in team history is gone, Tarasenko isn't himself, Binnington isn't himself. Start the reset now, it was inevitable and I'd rather see a few crap years than another few decades of 1st or 2nd round exits from a middling team and we look back in 2049 and say damn, its been 30 years already?

Pretty much my feelings too. I remember all those years when the selling point was the Blues making the post season for the longest stretch in hockey. That was great from a revenue standpoint but it got pretty old getting bounced early year after year after year.

[Portland Blues]

Another year of NBC sucking at scheduling the broadcast. Blues game supposed to be on now but instead there's still 8 minutes to go in a tied game that started earlier. Of course they don't mention the other game or where you can watch it.

[theohall]

At least the NBCSN app is working for me today. And yes, scheduling sucks. They schedule games for 2 and half hours, but spend 20 minutes of that 2 and half hours talking before the first game starts. If they would schedule based on puck drop for 2 and half hours, they'd be close enough.

[Portland Blues]

At least the NBCSN app is working for me today. And yes, scheduling sucks. They schedule games for 2 and half hours, but spend 20 minutes of that 2 and half hours talking before the first game starts. If they would schedule based on puck drop for 2 and half hours, they'd be close enough.

I checked CNBC, NBC and the NHL Network and no Blues game on. It just feels like gaslighting when it's past time for the broadcast to start and they simply don't mention it.

[Portland Blues]

Finally showing on the NHL Network. Of course NBCSN makes no mention of that.

[Portland Blues]

Colorado hasn't swept a series in 20 years.

[Portland Blues]

Good to see Tank score one.

[JCShutout]

What is this “lead” thingy? Are we allowed those?

[JCShutout]

Apparently not

[Portland Blues]

Apparently not

That might end up being the highlight of this entire series. "Remember that game we led for a few minutes?"

[glen a richter]

Well here we go.

[JCShutout]

Yup there it is. Gnight stl. It certainly was... a series.

[Portland Blues]

It's an elimination game and we have 11 shots on goal through 2 periods. Unless something completely unexpected happens the current makeup of this team isn't going anywhere.

[Portland Blues]

That was a weak one.

[Portland Blues]

Glimpse of 91 past?

[flyingnote38]

biggest factors in this series...
#1 colorado is simply a better team
#2 injuries, injuries, injuries ...... when discussing how many players they had out, I forgot half . I mean, missing 4 of your top 6 dmen?
#3 not competing - too many pucks along the boards where instead of being physical we simply poke at the puck at full stick extension
#4 did none of the things i'd said they'd need to do to have a chance in this series -- stay out of the penalty box, win the special teams battle, neutralize McKinnon, out goaltend Grubauer.