As part of the Blues' attempt to be embraced by the true north strong and free, the team tweeted that "O Canada" would be sung along with "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Not anymore.
Due to a pregame conflict, we're unable to perform O Canada tomorrow. But we do have a special in-game honour for our Canadian friends.
After losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the biggest decision Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan faces is whether to stick with rookie netminder Matt Murray, or swap him out for well-rested Stanley Cup champion Marc-Andre Fleury.
Though a healthy Fleury is certainly an enticing option, there are a number of reasons why the Penguins are likely to stick with the 21-year-old in Monday's Game 2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Conn Smythe candidate
Though Fleury provides additional veteran experience in the crease, is that really enough to dethrone the goalie who has carried the Penguins through the opening two rounds?
Not only has Murray posted an incredible .929 save percentage through 10 playoff games, but he's recorded his seven victories opposite goaltending giants Henrik Lundqvist and Braden Holtby.
Though Andrei Vasilevskiy is no typical backup in the event Lightning starter Ben Bishop's injury sidelines him for an extended period, neither is Murray. He's proved throughout this spring that he's not afraid of postseason pressure, making him a clear candidate for playoff MVP.
Rutherford's rookies
Though this is Sullivan's first trip to the third round of the NHL playoffs, it's the third time for general manager Jim Rutherford after two long playoff runs as GM of the Carolina Hurricanes. And if anybody should be confident in running deep into the postseason with a rookie goalie, it's him.
In 2006, Martin Gerber won 38 games during the regular season for the second-seeded Carolina Hurricanes, but it was a rookie thrown into action midway through the first round that changed the course of the playoffs.
Cam Ward, then 21, won 15 games on the way to a Conn Smythe and the franchise's first Stanley Cup. If Rutherford believes history can repeat itself, he'll remember that after losing Game 1 of the '06 conference finals, the Hurricanes stuck with Ward and went on to win in seven.
Not at fault
Though allowing three goals on 20 shots in Game 1 hardly appears to be a strong performance, Sullivan was quick to defend his goalie's effort.
"The goals that were scored were high-quality chances," said Sullivan, per Sportsnet's Chris Johnston. "Very difficult saves. So I don't think it's an instance where Matt had a subpar performance."
It's hard to peg any game of Murray's so far as "subpar." He's allowed four goals just once in these playoffs, while the other three remaining starters - Bishop, Martin Jones, and Brian Elliott - have allowed at least four multiple times.
Though disappointing, Murray's performance Friday was better than anything either Fleury or Jeff Zatkoff could put together across the Penguins' three regular-season losses to Tampa Bay. There's no reason to pull the 21-year-old out of the crease until his play is truly a cause for concern.
Toronto Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe needs more from William Nylander.
The 20-year-old, who was drafted eighth overall by the Maple Leafs in 2014, recorded an impressive 45 points in 38 regular season games for the AHL club this season, but his postseason performance has left something to be desired.
So says Keefe, who spoke about Nylander directly following a Game 6 loss to the Albany Devils on Saturday.
"We need (Nylander) to be a lot more competitive with and without the puck," Keefe told reporters. "Right now, he's 'foot off the gas' quite a bit when we don't have the puck, and as a result we're not getting it nearly enough when he's out there and he's not able to use his strength."
Keefe added Nylander is one of many players that need to step up in order for the Marlies to come out on top in Game 7.
Toronto finished with a league-high 114 points this season, and a second-round loss would be a huge disappointment for a club with serious Calder Cup aspirations.
The Western Conference finals feature two teams that have never won a Stanley Cup in the St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks have never advanced to the championship round, while the Blues haven't reached it since 1970, when they were posterized by Bobby Orr.
The fortunes of one franchise will change over the next four-to-seven games, leaving the other to wear the underachiever tag for at least another year.
Here are three reasons why the Blues will be singing anything but once the dust has settled in this series.
The well runs deep
The fact the Blues outlasted the Chicago Blackhawks and Dallas Stars in back-to-back seven-game series is a testament to the depth of talent put together by general manager Doug Armstrong.
No fewer than a dozen players have recorded at least five points over the course of those 14 games, with half hitting double digits. At the same time, the Blues have limited the likes of Patrick Kane and Jamie Benn to well below average production.
The Blues, however, have three balanced scoring lines that can get the better of the opposition on any given night, with the trio of Robby Fabbri, Paul Stastny, and Troy Brouwer playing as well as any line left in the postseason.
The fact that Blues third line is Berglund, Steen and Backes should scare Sharks. https://t.co/XekzblTHVK
The Blues have the wherewithal to counter the most potent of offensive attacks with a balanced, structured, and physical one of their own, and that will pay dividends against a top-heavy Sharks team.
Battle-tested Elliott
Brian Elliott has developed a reputation for being a good regular-season goalie incapable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs, but he's certainly showing big-game ability this time around.
The 31-year-old has posted a save percentage of .929 through 14 games this postseason, and risen to the occasion by stopping 62 of 65 shots against in two Game 7 situations.
Martin Jones has been solid in net for the Sharks (.918 save percentage), but Elliott - who boasts the added advantage of having the legendary Martin Brodeur in his corner - has been straight-up better all season long.
Compare their save percentages in five-on-five play through the regular season and playoffs:
Elliott - 56 GP, .939
Jones - 77 GP, .926
The Blues have a clear advantage in net, and that can't be overlooked.
Possession and special teams
Goaltending is incredibly important at this time of year, but series are often won in the realm of special teams and possession.
When it comes to possession, both teams are fairly even when it comes to total shot attempts (Corsi) and unblocked shot attempts (Fenwick) at even strength. This chart shows the teams' respective success rates in the regular season and playoffs combined - and don't forget the advantage the Blues have in save percentage.
Blues
Stat
Sharks
51.26
Corsi For %
51.04
51.46
Fenwick For %
52.47
While the power plays are nearly equal, the Blues have been able to kill penalties more consistently than the Sharks (again, this chart includes regular season and playoffs together).
Blues
Situation
Sharks
23.1%
PP
23.6%
84.5%
PK
80.7%
In short, these lubs are fairly even in terms of possession and on the power play, but St. Louis has a distinct advantage on the penalty kill and in five-on-five save percentage.
This series does appear set to go long, but look for the Blues to prevail in the end.
(Advanced statistical information courtesy: Corsica Hockey)
TORONTO - Nick Lappin and Reid Boucher both scored their fourth goals of the post-season as the Albany Devils forced a Game 7 with a 4-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Saturday in American Hockey League action.
The win tied the second-ro...
After recovery from shoulder surgery limited Patrik Berglund to just 42 games in the regular season, and a career-low 15 points, the St. Louis Blues are in awe of his play after an incredible effort in his team's second-round series win over the Dallas Stars.
"I think the last two games against Dallas were some of the best hockey I've seen him play in his career," captain David Backes praised, per NHL.com's Lou Korac.
Berglund scored a third-period goal in an eventual Game 6 loss, but that didn't slow him down in Game 7. He wristed the Blues' third goal past Kari Lehtonen in the final seconds of the first, and picked up an assist on a goal by Backes early in the second.
The 27-year-old finished the series with three goals, three assists and an impressive plus-6 rating.
"This is the best he's played since I coached him," added head coach Ken Hitchcock, though his praise almost went unnoticed by the Swede.
Berglund on Hitch saying this is best he's played: "I guess he tells you more than he tells me. That’s good." #stlblues
The Dallas Stars captain and Hart Trophy finalist, who's set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2017, can sign a contract extension as early as July 1, and agreeing to terms with the club is something he certainly wants to do prior to the start of training camp.
"Going into the last year of your contract, you don't want it to be a distraction for your team," Benn said, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas News. "I'll let (general manager) Jim (Nill) and my agent try to figure that out.
"This is where I want to play, this is where I want to be. I don't think it's going to be a problem."
For his part, Nill plans to meet with Benn and his agent in the coming days.
"I've got to meet with Jamie over the next week or 10 days. Going to start discussing that and then I'll get a hold of his people," Nill said. "It's something we'd like to start up, if it's something we can get done in July, August."
Benn has played all 508 games of his career in Dallas, winning the Art Ross Trophy with the club last season.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Cam Talbot made 18 saves to pick up his second shutout as Canada blanked Slovakia 5-0 on Saturday at the world hockey championship.
The win moved the Canadians to a perfect 5-0 in Group B preliminary-round play in St....
