Outsourced from the NHL's asset mill long ago, Troy Brouwer has firsthand knowledge on what a long, abnormally productive postseason performance can do for one's biweekly pay stub.

Instead of realizing his inflated worth alongside former teammates with the Chicago Blackhawks (or the Washington Capitals, for that matter), however, Brouwer's cashing in several seasons later with the Central Division rival St. Louis Blues.

Brouwer scored his sixth and seventh goals this postseason in Saturday's critical Game 4, leading St. Louis to a 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks to even the Western Conference final at two games apiece.

His total through 18 games not only matches Vladimir Tarasenko and David Backes for the team lead, but it also equals the output from his previous 78 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After the win, Brouwer opened up about the challenge he received from management when he was brought to St. Louis, and how it's helped him succeed this spring.

"I had a lot of expectations on me this year," Brouwer said, "with what (GM Doug Armstrong) has expected from me when he traded for me. Telling me that my season was going to be judged on how I handled myself, and how I played in the playoffs and down the stretch.

"When you have expectations like that on you, you want to perform your best."

You can bet there will similar dialogue this summer when Brouwer decides on his playing future. Only his performance this spring will heighten the expectation, from wherever the source.

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