The one thing game officials don’t want to miss on the ice is a goal or a missed call which leads to the game winning goal no less. Unfortunately—that’s what happened in Boston in Game 5 when the obvious trip in the Bruins’ zone led to a turnover and what turned out to be the game winner by Perron.
You can’t miss that call, but all four game officials did and the St. Louis Blues head back home with a chance to clinch their first ever Cup in Game 6.
Having written this…I would also add the Blues have played great hockey these past two games with Jordan Binnington and Ryan O’Reilly leading the way.
Binnington has been fabulous in net after the Game 3 meltdown and O’Reily has been the best hockey player on the ice these past two games scoring a game winner and notching a game winning assist as well.
Boston’s powerplay went thud in Game 5 and their first line did not produce. The lines were tinkered with and the Bruins went with only eleven forwards. Yet…the puck still did not find the back of the net.
In the last two games combined—the Bruins have scored but three goals as a team.
My three leading candidates for the Conn Smthye heading into Game 6 in St. Louis are in this order currently…1 Binnington, 2 Rask, and 3 O’Reily.
Championship teams often take on the persona of their head coach and these Blues very much have the look of Craig Berube intertwined in their game.
The Boston Bruins simply have to put the puck in the back of the net or else the Blues will be hoisting the Cup.