Tuukka Rask stopped 28 shots Sunday night as the Boston Bruins spoiled the St. Louis Blues’ plans to skate the Stanley Cup around Enterprise Center, winning 5-1 in Game 6 to even the best-of-seven series at 3-3.
Game 7 is Wednesday night in Boston, the latest twist to a series in which the road team has won four of six games. The Bruins are trying for their second Cup in nine years, while St. Louis is attempting to win its first Cup in franchise history.
Rask was the best player on the ice for most the game, making 12 saves on four Blues power plays. He got help from a goal post during a second period man advantage; Alex Pietrangelo’s rebound attempt beat Rask but clanged off the iron.
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Coming off a controversial 2-1 loss in Game 5 on Thursday night that saw St. Louis score the game-winner moments after a tripping penalty went uncalled, Boston poured its energy into exacting revenge instead of pointing fingers at the officials.
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The Bruins earned the first goal at 8:40 of the first period with a 5-on-3 power play after Brayden Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly took minor penalties 62 seconds apart. Brad Marchand turned David Pastrnak’s pass into his ninth goal of the playoffs on a one-timer from the right circle.
Unheralded players helped Boston break it open in the third period. Defenseman Brandon Carlo’s soft point shot somehow eluded rookie goalie Jordan Binnington at 2:31 for a 2-0 lead. Karson Kuhlman, in his first game since April 30, made it 3-0 at 10:15 when he scored his first playoff marker on a wrister from the right circle.
O’Reilly’s fourth goal in three games pulled the Blues within 3-1 at 12:17, but Pastrnak wrapped it up with a wrister off a Marchand setup at 14:06, his ninth goal of the playoffs. Zdeno Chara scored into an empty net at 17:41.
Binnington saved 27 of 31 shots for St. Louis.
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