They're finally singing to a different tune in St. Louis.
For the first time in four seasons,the Blues won a playoff series,finishingoff the defending Stanley Cup championBlackhawks with a 3-2 win inGame 7at Scottrade Center onMonday. It wasTroy Brouwerwhoscored the go-ahead goal8:31 into the third period, and the Blues fended off a furious rally from Chicago that included a heart wrenching that would have tied the game in the closing Ezekiel Elliott Hoodies Sweatshirts minutes.
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It's the Blues' first Game 7 win since1999, which isn't so shocking when you consider theylast advanced to the second round of the playoffs in the 2011-12 season.
Since then, it's been a stretch of notoriously disappointing playoff runs and squandered Stanley Cup aspirations, with St. Louis' season ending in the first round each of the last three seasons.
It wasn't just that the Dallas Cowboys Pet Gear Blueslost those series,it was how. In blowout fashion, usually, following unexpectedly lackluster performances. But they eradicated the label ofplayoff Trevon Diggs T Shirts choker that's hung over the team since Ken Hitchcock took over as coach.
St. Louis will face Hitchcock's old team, the Central Division-winning Dallas Stars, in the second round.
Win or lose, already sporting a hard-fought series win over the three-times-in-six-yearschampion Blackhawks, it would be difficultto imagine a scenario in which these playoffsendin the same vein as years past for the dangerous-looking Blues.
Three stars
3. Brian Elliott, Blues Elliott was stellar all series and didn't disappoint when it mattered most, stopping 31 of 33 shots, including a few of the standing-on-his head variety with the Blues clinging to a one-goal lead. The goalieheads to the second round of the playoffssporting a2.40 goals-against average and.929 save percentage, numbers that would be even better if you overlook Game 6.
2.PekkaRinne, Predators After three regrettable performances in games 3-5,Rinne rebounded in a big way Monday with 26 CeeDee Lamb Jerseys saves on 27 Ducks shots tohelp the Predators force a Game 7. They'll need him to be brilliant once more on Wednesday.
1. Troy Brouwer, Blues A member of the Blackhawks' 2010 Cup-winning roster, Brouwerhas theplayoff-testedmettle the Blues have mi sed in recent years. He showed why, getting to the net and following through on the eventual winning goal his first of the playoffs.
Whacking. Banging. Dallas Cowboys Rompers Taking the lead. This game is insane.
#StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL)Highlight
The Blackhawks camethis close to forcing overtime. Music to Elliott's ears.
both posts and out
Stephanie (@myregularface)Wednesday's game to watch
Predators at Ducks, Game 7 Deion Sanders Jerseys , 10 p.m. ET, NBCSN (Series tied 3-3) With no hockey Tuesday, all eyes shift to what will be the final game of the first round, and it's an always-entertaining Game 7. Sporadic goalie play has allowed this series to go back and forth, so it could come down to RinneorFrederik Andersen.
