Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday after being held out of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final with an undisclosed injury, the team announced.
Over the weekend, theScore's John Matisz tapped two hockey writers - one in Boston, another in St. Louis - to help preview the Stanley Cup Final. Below is an email thread between Matisz, who acts as the moderator, Boston Sports Journal's Conor Ryan, and Dan Buffa of St. Louis Game Time. (Note: The following roundtable discussion has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.)
Matisz: If you think back to the end of the regular season and compare the local vibe then to now, with the Cup Final about to begin, what's the confidence level in the home team? Has it changed, stayed the same?
Ryan: For as many titles as Boston has scooped up over the last two decades, Bruins fans can still be a rather pessimistic lot, taking a bit of a 'Murphy's Law' approach when it comes to charting out the odds for a Cup at the outset of spring.
The local vibe has been very positive for this team, especially thanks to that 25-6-5 run Boston went on from the Winter Classic all the way to the middle of March, but there was plenty of pessimism about Boston's chances of a deep run given the looming issue of Tampa Bay at the top of the bracket. As soon as the Lightning and the Capitals (with Bruins killer Braden Holtby) were bounced in the first round, things did become MUCH more positive around town.
It's been an interesting road for Boston, but the team is making the most of the opportunity. And the fans are clearly responding, given they sold out TD Garden for an intrasquad scrimmage last week.
Buffa: Around St. Louis, imagine a huge party after a proposed funeral. It's a classic rise-fall-rise storyline.
This past fall, the Blues were projected to go deep into the playoffs with the addition of Ryan O'Reilly, Tyler Bozak, and Pat Maroon. Hopes were high, but games weren't won. Mike Yeo was fired, and a guy named Craig Berube - whom few knew of - was put into his place. Jake Allen had another episode in net, Maroon got off to a terrible start, and Vladimir Tarasenko even ghosted the Blues for a few weeks. The city was talking about pre-ordering Jack Hughes for Christmas, and the team was literally in the cellar around New Year's. Most of the fanbase, outside of what they said on Twitter, wrote this team off as a bad joke.
And then the winning streak happened. Jordan Binnington happened. Berube Hockey became infused with the team's mantra and their love for the song "Gloria." The fans were leaving the house, but got pulled back in for a song, and they never left. They've been glued to their seats ever since and are truly believing in this team.
Matisz: Speaking of believing, both clubs are set between the pipes. Rask's been Boston's best player this postseason, and Binnington’s played a starring role in St. Louis' incredible ascension. Who has the goaltending advantage?
Buffa: While Binnington has been great, I have to give Rask the edge here. This is a close battle because Binnington has passed every test that the playoffs have thrown in front of him, but when it comes to the Final, it's a whole new world.
Rask has been lights-out this postseason, and he has his name etched on the Cup. He's like Ben Bishop - who gave the Blues all they could handle - but better, and a monstrous step up from Martin Jones, who rolled over for the Blues in the Western Conference Final.
Ryan: It's definitely going to be fascinating matchup in net - especially when you factor in the extended break for both teams leading up to Game 1. Binnington has been fantastic in net, his play carrying over from the regular season. He's the sixth netminder in NHL history to win at least 12 playoff games in a rookie campaign, while boasting a .914 save percentage and a shutout.
If the Blues are going to topple the Bruins, they’re going to need Binnington to steal a couple of games, and he currently has the moxie to do it. But, even at Binnington’s best, Rask still might be even better. The case could be made that this is the best stretch Rask has played since first donning a black and gold sweater 12 years ago. He leads all playoff goalies with a .942 save percentage and a 1.84 goals against average, while posting a pair of shutouts in clinching victories over both Columbus and Carolina.
Where Rask holds a clear edge over Binnington is when it comes to negating prime scoring chances, as he's posted a high-danger save percentage of .918 - tops among all playoff goalies with at least 10 games played. In a series that will likely feature multiple low-scoring games, a timely save or two might be the difference. So far, Rask has answered the call in that regard for Boston.
Matisz: Stylistically, there are similarities between Boston and St. Louis - the relentless forechecks, the ability to limit scoring chances against, the scoring punch throughout the lineup. Which matchups will you be monitoring closely?
Ryan: Two matchups that I'll be keeping tabs on are the battles for positioning in the slot, as well as Patrice Bergeron vs. Ryan O'Reilly. Throughout the postseason, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has harped on the need for Boston to get inside against the opposing D corps and generate quality looks down low. He's noted before that the failure to do so against guys like Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh was the main reason why Boston came up short against Tampa last spring, with the Lightning holding a 38-25 lead in 5v5 high-danger scoring chances during that five-game series.
The club has really responded this spring, holding a 150-130 edge in high-danger chances in the 2019 playoffs. With goals surrendered by Binnington this postseason coming from an average of 19 feet away from the net, Boston is going to have to fight inside and get those quality looks down low - though it's easier said than done against a big Blues' D corps. This could be a key series for a player like Jake DeBrusk, who has the speed to get inside in a hurry against bigger bodies, and he's more than wiling to scrap down low.
It wouldn't come as much of a surprise if Bergeron and Boston's top line primarily matches up against Jaden Schwartz, Brayden Schenn, and Tarasenko. However, I think the main matchup storyline is which of Bergeron and O'Reilly blinks first when it comes to locking down the opposition. In more than 86 minutes of 5v5 TOI in which O'Reilly, David Perron, and Sammy Blais have rolled out this postseason, the Blues have outscored the competition, 5-0.
As for Bergeron, he's excelled at shutting down the opposition's top scoring option all playoffs long, with the latest target being Carolina's Sebastian Aho. In 15:30 of 5v5 TOI in which Bergeron was on the ice at the same time as Aho during the Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes managed to generate only two shot attempts. Zero shots on goal. Crazy stuff.
Buffa: There's a few things I'm looking at. First, the net-front presence of the Blues. Can they overcome Zdeno Chara and the mighty Bruins' defense? Specifically, a guy like Maroon, who is so effective in front of the net and can get inside the heads of the goaltender and defensemen by using his body and soft hands to redirect shots. Same thing for the Blues and big-bodied blueliner Colton Parayko. If he can limit the chances the Bruins generate in front, the series could tilt in St. Louis' direction. Parayko has been key in swiping away scoring opportunities against the Jets, Stars, and Sharks.
Second, the face-off battle. Can O'Reilly get his dot efficiency back for this series? During the regular season, he was a 60 percent guy and was reliable in dictating the action, helping his team set up and generate scoring opportunities. In the playoffs, he's been nowhere near 60 percent. The Bruins will have Bergeron, David Krejci, and Charlie Coyle on the dot battling for possession.
The third thing has to be special teams. Boston has a clear advantage here. The Bruins have a fantastic power play and it has helped them dominate. Boston's 34 percent on the PP nearly doubles the Blues' 19 percent. If Brad Marchand works his magic, the Blues will take penalties and Boston will win those games. Penalty killing has also favored Boston, which holds an 86 percent kill rate over the Blues' 78 percent. During the playoffs, St. Louis' PP has either been missing altogether or solid. It'll have to be efficient against the Bruins.
Fourth, I'm looking at Tarasenko. He hasn't truly gone off yet this spring. He's scored goals and had big moments, but has taken off large parts of 5v5 action. Can he break through and dominate a couple of these games? People forget it was his resurgence in January and February that helped the Blues launch into their streak. When he's on, the team hits another level. He makes everyone else more lethal when he's putting the puck where he wants, moving his feet, and crashing around. If he waits on the dot like a guy waiting for his Uber, the Blues are in trouble. He has to hit another gear.
Boston is big, pushes people around, and generally has its way. The Bruins have ruled like an army of steamrollers during the regular season and playoffs. In a way, they are the Jets with superpowers. St. Louis, though, has pushed back against every unstoppable force so far this postseason, finding new contributors along the way. If the Blues can improve on face-offs, win some battles in front of the net, and run an efficient power play without falling for Boston's traps in drawing penalties, this could be a very entertaining series.
Matisz: Finish this sentence, Conor - the Bruins win if...
Ryan: The Bruins win if they are able to get inside against the Blues' big D corps and are able to make Binnington work down low with high-danger attempts and second-chance scoring bids. Also, Rask needs to shake off any rust that might have come with a 10-day break between games.
Matisz: Same to you, Dan - the Blues win if...
Buffa: The Blues win if Binnington outplays Rask. When it comes down to it, Binnington was the reason San Jose got frustrated and fell apart. He stopped shots, controlled action, and dictated pace. He held his own with Bishop in Round 2, but if he can do it again in the Final and best Rask, the series will tilt in the Blues' favor. If the Bruins come out and drop a barrage of goals on Binnington, the confidence will disappear. If the rookie stands tall, it will propel the Blues. On this final stage, a sharp goaltender means everything to a team.
Matisz: Prediction time. Who wins the Cup and in how many games?
Ryan: Bruins in 6 after six hard-fought, low-scoring bouts. David Backes buries the game winner at Enterprise Center.
Buffa: Man, I hate predictions. One day, I thought Boston in 7. A couple of days later, I convinced myself it was Blues in 7. These are two tough teams with some serious resolve. An unstoppable force against an immovable object. So close. At the end of the day, I am going with Bruins in 7. The Blues will push them to the brink, but in the end, the extra polish and skill of the Bruins will make a difference. Honesty is a double-edged sword for a sportswriter but a necessary travel companion.
Matisz: I picked Bruins in 7 for theScore's Staff Predictions post. I'll stick to it. Thanks for doing this, guys. Enjoy the series!
The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies scored four unanswered goals, rallying to beat the host Halifax Mooseheads 4-2 in the championship final to claim the Memorial Cup for the first time on Sunday night.
Felix Bibeau, Joel Teasdale, Peter Abbandonato, and Vincent Marleau tallied for the Huskies.
Teasdale, a Montreal Canadiens prospect, was named tournament MVP.
Halifax's Samuel Asselin opened the scoring in the final minute of the first period, and Raphael Lavoie added another goal for the Mooseheads early in the second frame. However, after that Halifax wasn't able to respond to the Huskies.
Rouyn-Noranda also reached the final of the 2016 tournament, but the team lost that championship game to the London Knights.
Brad Marchand has made some interesting plans for his day with the Stanley Cup if the Boston Bruins win another championship.
The forward listed two items and a baby when asked what he'd put in the trophy if his team wins it for the second time in eight years.
The Bruins spent four hours at a nightclub following their 2011 championship-clinching victory, racking up a tab costing more than $150,000, including a $100,000 bottle of champagne.
After 49 years, it's the rematch we've all been waiting for.
Well, maybe not, but for the second time in NHL history, the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues will do battle in the Stanley Cup Final.
The last time these teams met with the championship at stake, the Blues got swept and Bobby Orr went airborne.
While it'd be fun for a new "most famous picture in hockey history" to emerge from this year's series, let's not get greedy. Instead, we'll break down every position and determine who owns the edge in this winner-take-all matchup.
Forwards
Bruins: At this point, the entire hockey world knows Boston's top line is the best in the league. The Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak triumvirate has been dominant throughout the postseason, owning 55 percent of shot attempts, 53 percent of scoring chances, and 75 percent of goals scored at five-on-five through three rounds. Slowing this unit down at even strength should be the No. 1 priority for any opponent.
But while the top line is the constant, these Bruins also have depth. David Krejci has solidified his status as one of this generation's top playoff producers and ranks third on the squad with 14 points this spring. Elsewhere, deadline acquisitions Charlie Coyle (12 points) and Marcus Johansson (nine points) have consistently impacted games, while the club has a pair of sleeping giants in Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen who could break out at any time.
Overall, 13 different Bruins forwards have lit the lamp in these playoffs, and the team is tied with the Blues at 57 goals scored, but in two fewer games.
Blues: The Blues might just possess the antidote to the Bergeron line, as their top unit that's spearheaded by fellow all-world two-way pivot Ryan O'Reilly can counter any punch - at least on paper. Alongside O'Reilly, left winger Jaden Schwartz is probably the Blues' most viable Conn Smythe threat with 12 goals this postseason, while Vladimir Tarasenko showed up big time in the Western Conference Final. That line will need to stay hot for St. Louis to have any chance at hoisting the Cup.
Down the lineup, the Blues' production thins out. There are a number of steady contributors - including David Perron, Brayden Schenn, Pat Maroon, and Tyler Bozak - but if this series comes down to depth scoring, it'll be tough to match the Bruins' overall firepower.
Edge: Bruins
Defense
Bruins: It feels like the Bruins' defense corps flew a tad under the radar throughout the first three rounds. The group features a tremendous blend of speed, physicality, and poise, and it played a big role in holding the trigger-happy Hurricanes to less than 25 shots in two of the four conference final games.
Charlie McAvoy looks destined to become one of the most complete D-men in the league, Torey Krug is masterful with the puck on his stick, and Zdeno Chara still finds ways to impose his will every night. With those three leading the charge, and with Brandon Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, and Connor Clifton serving as complementary pieces, the Bruins have quietly built a rock-solid group one through six.
Blues: This is a tight matchup, as the Blues are also strong on the back end. Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko are both superstars who can eat up heavy minutes, while Joel Edmundson and Vince Dunn (who's dealing with health concerns) are effective at suppressing shots while staying out of the spotlight.
Then there are veterans Jay Bouwmeester and Carl Gunnarsson, who have experience and smarts but lack foot speed, which could be a factor the Bruins look to exploit when drawing up their offensive game plan.
Edge: Bruins
Goalies
Bruins: Backstopping the Bruins is the runaway Conn Smythe favorite, Tuukka Rask, who's been lights-out this postseason with a 12-5 record, a .942 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Rask has made saves look impossibly easy at times and even owns a .921 save clip when the Bruins have been shorthanded. St. Louis will have to hope Boston's long layoff knocked him out of his zone a touch.
Blues: RookieJordan Binnington's ice-cold demeanorhas translated well in these playoffs, as he owns a sturdy .914 save percentage through 19 starts.
It also helps that Binnington has looked his best when the stakes have been highest, as he allowed just two goals to the San Jose Sharks in three games after falling behind 2-1 in their Western Conference Final clash. He'll need to carry that form over to the championship round against the hottest goalie on earth.
Edge: Bruins
Special teams
Bruins: Boston does the lion's share of its damage on the power play, which leads the playoffs with a ridiculous 34 percent conversion rate. And the Bruins simply scorched the Hurricanes with the man advantage, going 7-for-15 in four games. Simply put, stay out of the box against these guys.
On the flip side, the Bruins have been stingy on the penalty kill, fending off 86.3 percent of power-play opportunities by opponents. Dating back to Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Round 1, that number goes up to 90.2 percent.
Blues: Perhaps the Blues are piecing it together at the perfect time. Through the club's first 15 playoff games, the man advantage was futile at just 14.8 percent. But, to close out the Sharks, the power play woke up and went 5-15 from Game 2 to Game 6. Staying hot in that department would go a long way against the Bruins.
At the other end, patching up the penalty kill is a must for St. Louis. The unit surrendered only two goals against the Sharks, but it's operating at just a 78 percent clip for these playoffs. That won't cut it in the final.
Edge: Bruins
Coaching
Bruins: Since being hired in February 2017, Bruce Cassidy has coached the Bruins to 117 wins, trailing only the Tampa Bay Lightning over that span. His team plays a committed, adaptive style and is near the top of the pack in both special-teams categories. He's quickly cemented himself as one of the top bench bosses in the league.
Blues: Craig Berube is technically still the Blues' interim head coach, which is laughable, as he's a lock to remain behind the bench after steering one of the most drastic in-season turnarounds in NHL history. Berube has gotten a talented roster that lacked cohesion to buy in and play for one another, and he hasn't budged from his game plan despite facing deficits in each of the past two series.
With the 2019 Stanley Cup Final between the Boston Bruins and the St. Louis Blues about to begin, theScore's Mike Dickson, Josh Gold-Smith, John Matisz, Sean O'Leary, Matt Teague, and Josh Wegman make their picks for who will emerge with Lord Stanley's mug and who will take home the Conn Smythe Trophy.
It wasn't the color they wanted, but Russia will leave Slovakia with a medal in hand.
Russia claimed the bronze medal Sunday at the IIHF World Championship, defeating Czech Republic 3-2 in a shootout.
Captain Ilya Kovalchuk and Nikita Gusev scored for Russia in the shootout, while the Czech Republic was unable to solve Andrei Vasilevskiy between the pipes.
Russia had to overcome a 2-1 deficit after jumping out to an early 1-0 lead. Artem Anisimov scored the tying goal in the second period, which was assisted by Gusev.
The Russians finished the preliminary round with a perfect 7-0-0-0 record and a sparkling +29 goal differential. They squeaked past the United States in the quarterfinals 4-3 but were upset by Finland 1-0 in the semis despite boasting a roster with superior talent and experience.
Russia's victory marks the country's third bronze medal in the last four tournaments. For the Czech Republic, its medal drought extends to seven years.