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Tuesday 11 June 2019

Bruins force Stanley Cup Game 7 with 5-1 win over Blues

By JAY COHEN chise’s first Stanley Cup title Of course, the unflappable the second. He got some netter in Boston’s 4-2 vic-
AP Sports Writer in its 51st season. Rookie Rask can have that effect help after Marchand was tory in Game 1. The Bruins
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Facing Jordan Binnington finished on a team. And whenever whistled for tripping Alex Pi- improved to 25-1 when the
elimination in an oh-so-hos- pesky veteran scores in the
tile environment, Tuukka postseason.
Rask and Brad Marchand “We knew that again the
stepped up for the Boston start was going to be key
Bruins once again. and that they were going
The Stanley Cup Final is to give us a push early and
heading to Game 7 be- to manage that and play
cause two of Boston’s big- well and take care of de-
gest stars love the biggest tails and obviously capital-
moments. ize on our chances,” Boston
Rask made 28 saves, center Patrice Bergeron
Marchand had a goal and said. Marchand and com-
an assist, and the Bruins pany then put it away in
beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 the third.
on Sunday night to even First, Jake DeBrusk won
the bruising, physical final a board battle with Pi-
at three games apiece. etrangelo to set up Carlo’s
David Pastrnak had one of bouncing shot that went
Boston’s four goals in the off Binnington’s arm for
third period and an assist, the defenseman’s second
helping the Bruins force career playoff goal. Then
the 17th Game 7 in Stanley Kuhlman, a rookie who was
Cup history. Brandon Carlo, in the lineup in place of for-
Karson Kuhlman and Zdeno mer Blues captain David
Chara also scored. Boston Bruins center Noel Acciari (55) rounds the net against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Backes, made it 3-0 with
“We’re fighting for our lives Binnington (50) during the third period of Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final Sunday, a well-placed wrist shot at
obviously,” Marchand said. June 9, 2019, in St. Louis. 10:15. After O’Reilly sup-
“When you play desperate, Associated Press plied some hope for St. Lou-
I think you see everyone’s is when he was awarded a
best game.” with 27 stops. “We have the Blues threatened, the etrangelo midway through goal after a review by the
Boston also was involved to move on, get ready for 6-foot-3 Finnish star was the second. With the Blues officials, Marchand found
in the final’s last Game 7, the next one,” O’Reilly said. there. applying heavy pressure in Pastrnak in front and the
winning the championship “We’re confident. We’re a “He’s our best player,” search of the tying goal, Pi- winger put a slick move on
at Vancouver in 2011. Rask great road team. Maybe Bruins defenseman Char- etrangelo had a backhand Binnington to make it 4-1 on
was a reserve goaltender that’s our story. Maybe we lie McAvoy said. “He just go off the left post and 14:06.
on that team eight years have to get it done on the steps up when it matters Rask’s back before McA- Chara, playing with a bro-
ago, while Marchand was road.” and we have all the faith in voy knocked the puck out ken jaw, added an emp-
a key performer. They will Backed by an electric En- the world in him. ... He’s our of the way out of midair. ty-netter with 2:19 left. The
go for another champion- terprise Center crowd that rock.” “We weathered the storm crowd chanted “Let’s Go
ship Wednesday night in included actors Jon Hamm Rask was at his best while pretty good,” Rask said. Blues!” in the final moments,
Boston after losing to Chi- and Jenna Fischer and Boston killed off four power While St. Louis came up hoping to give St. Louis a
cago in the 2013 final. Cardinals catcher Yadier plays, dropping St. Louis to empty on the power play, boost for its trip to Boston.
“The whole hockey world Molina, wearing a No. 49 1 for 18 with the man ad- Boston used a 5-on-3 ad- “Listen, if you told me four
loves a Game 7, so it should Blues jersey in honor of sus- vantage for the series. He vantage to jump in front in months ago we were going
be a great night in Boston pended forward Ivan Bar- smothered a big Colton the first. With Schenn and to be in the finals in Game
and may the best team bashev, St. Louis looked Parayko slap shot with O’Reilly in the box, March- 7, I think I’d take it,” Blues
win,” Bruins coach Bruce a step off for most of the Chara in the box near the and beat Binnington with a coach Craig Berube said.
Cassidy said. game. Prime scoring op- end of the first period, and sharp-angled shot from the “We’ve been a good road
Ryan O’Reilly scored in the portunities were derailed made a fancy glove stop right circle at 8:40. team. We’ve won twice up
third period for St. Louis, by misplaced passes or ev- on an even-strength try It was Marchand’s first goal there in this series, so we’re
which is looking for the fran- er-so-slight timing issues. for Brayden Schenn 7:42 in since he got an empty- a confident group.”q