GDT Rd 2 Gm 4: 5/1/19 | 8:30 PM CT | @ Stars | NBCSN/NHL-A

[theohall]

Through four road games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, the St. Louis Blues own four road victories.

It's hard enough to win with home-ice advantage at this time of year, but what the Blues did to build their current 2-1 series lead on the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference semifinals is impressive.

St. Louis looks to maintain its road form Wednesday at Dallas in Game 4 of the best-of-seven set.

"We're really confident on the road. We've played in tough buildings now throughout the playoffs," Blues forward Tyler Bozak told NHL.com. "We've found ways to win late in games. When we get down or when teams tie it up, we don't really sit back. We kind of get back to our game and put it behind us."

That attitude was evident in the Blues' 4-3 road win on Monday.

Three times St. Louis surrendered the lead in a thrilling affair, particularly amid a heart-stopping final seven minutes of action.

The clubs combined for four goals in just over five minutes. The Stars twice tied the game only to see St. Louis regain the lead both times. The visitors claimed the victory thanks to Patrick Maroon's goal with 98 seconds left. To top it off, the Blues were short-handed the final 44 seconds but held strong.

"Our whole team was at our best," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "From the drop of the puck, we were a lot more aggressive, we were a lot more engaged in the game, just on pucks, physical, played a much heavier game, everybody. That (Bozak) line got rewarded with a couple of goals tonight."

Now, the onus is on the Stars to recover with the pressure on them.

Falling short despite repeated comebacks is hard enough, but another loss would leave Dallas in must-win territory and the Blues three chances to close out the series. Then again, the Stars were down two games to one to the Nashville Predators in their opening-round series and promptly won three straight to complete one of the many upsets that have highlighted this spring's Stanley Cup chase.

"We were here about a week and a half ago, and it's the same kind of story," Dallas center Tyler Seguin said. "So we are pretty excited to respond and take (Tuesday) to regroup and come back with a better effort."

Stars center Jason Spezza added, "Obviously, the amount of times we (came) back, it's a frustrating one in the end to lose like that (Monday). But I feel like that probably wasn't our best game we can play, and we still had a chance to win."

The Stars must find a solution to keep the deep Blues team in check. Sure, Dallas managed to prevent the top St. Louis forwards from taking over the Past couple of games, but it was the third line of Maroon, Bozak and Robert Thomas that made the difference.

"It didn't matter who we put out against that line, they seemed to have their way with us," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "We've got to do a better job taking away time and space, and we've got to have our second layer there quicker. Which means when they move it and we're able to get pressure on the puck, we've got to have someone come in there to win that loose-puck battle."

[glen a richter]

Keys to the game:

1. Dictate the pace from the opening faceoff
2. Play "smart physical"
3. Tighten up the defense--no lapses at any point in the game, don't make it harder for Binnington than it has to be like it was at the end of game 3
4. Get offense from the top line
5. Win, demoralize them and go home up 3-1.

[theohall]

Executing both 1 and 3 can be difficult vs Dallas. Dictating the pace of play involves the defense stepping up in the offensive zone. With Dallas speed, a simple bouncing puck can cause a defensive breakdown when trying to dictate pace from the defense, or an official ignoring blatant tripping calls can cause the same. Just limit the defensive things as best they can and do their damnedest to break up the break downs should produce a win.

[StL Dan]

Keys to the game:

1. Dictate the pace from the opening faceoff
2. Play "smart physical"
3. Tighten up the defense--no lapses at any point in the game, don't make it harder for Binnington than it has to be like it was at the end of game 3
4. Get offense from the top line
5. Win, demoralize them and go home up 3-1.

I like this and would add - keep as many offensive skaters and shots on the outer thirds as possible.

Dallas' best players are extraordinarily good stickhandling and shooting in the middle of the ice through the crease. Of course, keeping shots and centering passes from the outside means someone has to be at home to deflect/redirect/intercept those back against the grain passes that Dallas and Winnipeg have converted.

Here's to Binny standing on his head tonight in what feels like will be a game that Dallas is going to try to overwhelm the Blues from the puck drop. Hoping the Blues D men bring their best game. If they do, I'm confident one or two of our hard working lines will be able to create scoring chances and convert.

[StL Dan]

I'm hearing Montgomery is breaking up the Benn, Radz, Seguin line tonight.

LGB

[gaijin]

"The onus is on the Stars." Good on the Blues to have put the Stars in the position of having all the pressure on them.

My fear is that this translates to Dallas taking a "hack and slash" approach to regaining control of the series.

[Portland Blues]

Bit of a flurry by Dallas to start. Now we get a PP.

[Portland Blues]

Yes!!!

[Robb_K]

And Tarasenko scores on a nice wrister, using the screen well!!! Blues lead 1-0!!!

[Portland Blues]

That Dallas goal all started with the lame turnover by J-Bow.

[Robb_K]

Nice saves by Binnington always being square to the shooter, even when a screen blocks his view. He has good sense in reading plays. And he's stingy with rebounds.

But The Blues allowed The Stars to have 2 forwards standing in front of their net, and that let them tie the game.

[Robb_K]

The Blues are having trouble dealing with The Stars' forecheck, just like they did in Game 2. Things don't look good. Most of the game is being played in The Blues' zone, and they barely get the puck into the neutral zone, and it comes right back in. They'd better match The Stars' intensity, or they'll drop out of this game quickly.

[Portland Blues]

Damn it Bozak.

[Robb_K]

BIG, BIG, BIG penalty kill for The Blues.

[Portland Blues]

Assholes. Less than a minute to go in the period.

[glen a richter]

Well that was entirely predictable.

[Portland Blues]

Well that was entirely predictable.

[Robb_K]

The Blues had played so very well killing that penalty only to have bad luck of two of their own players form a screen at just the wrong time with 5 seconds left in the penalty with less than a minute left in the period. The Blues better get determined to take this game away from The Stars and keep it. That has to start immediately, at the start of The 2nd.

[Portland Blues]

Blues starting the 2nd skating in wet cement.

[Portland Blues]

"St Louis needs to get something going."

Thanks Captain Obvious announcer gal.