Let's Go Blues

Jordan Binnington was back in playoff form Monday night in Game 1, making a career-high 46 saves, but it wasn't enough to lift the Blues past the Colorado Avalanche in the best-of-seven series.

"There's never a doubt with 'Binner,'" Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly said. "He was our best player and he showed it tonight. We were right in the game, just a couple of mistakes… if we (give) fewer opportunities to them, it's only going to make it easier on us and him."

"It's tough, but we'll be better," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said after Monday's loss. "We've got to manage the puck better. Our execution wasn't good with the puck tonight. On the defensive side we let them come out of their zone too easy and create odd-man rushes against us."

Jordan Kyrou scored the Blues' lone goal Monday - his first career playoff goal - in a 4-1 loss at Ball Arena. Mike Hoffman led the Blues with seven shot attempts.

If the Blues are to even the best-of-7 in Game 2, they'll need another strong outing from Binnington, fewer mistakes that led to rushes for the Avalanche, and more offensive contributions.

NOTEWORTHY STATS
- The Blues fell behind 1-0 in the 2019 Western Conference Final vs. San Jose and the 2019 Stanley Cup Final vs. Boston but came back to win each series.

- Teams that win Game 1 in a best-of-7 series have won 68.8 percent of the time (490-222).

- In 2019, the Blues were 10-3 on the road and never lost consecutive road games.

THEY SAID IT
"It's a long series, it's a best-of-7. It's one game. We'll watch video, freshen up on some things and be ready for Game 2." - Blues forward Tyler Bozak after losing Game 1

"For us, it's about wins and losses, and that's what it comes down to… As a team, I thought we played a strong game. A few periods, second period, towards the end of it, we kind of got away from our game. I thought overall the third period was really good. Everybody chipped in, everybody played well." - Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog after Game 1

BLUE NOTES
Jordan Binnington's next postseason win will tie Mike Liut and Greg Millen (17) for the most wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a Blues goaltender. Binnington won 16 playoff games in 2019 en route to capturing the franchise's first Stanley Cup. Binnington's next start will tie Curtis Joseph (33) for the third-most postseason starts amongst Blues goaltenders… Jaden Schwartz tied Chris Pronger (85) for fifth-most games played in the postseason in Game 1… Vladimir Tarasenko is two goals away from tying Bernie Federko (35) for second-most playoff goals in Blues history.

Jordan Binnington's next postseason win will tie Mike Liut and Greg Millen (17) for the most wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a Blues goaltender.

gaijin wrote: ↑

Wed May 19, 2021 7:34 am

Jordan Binnington's next postseason win will tie Mike Liut and Greg Millen (17) for the most wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a Blues goaltender.

Wow. In only his 3rd season, Binnington could hold the franchise record for most postseason wins.

Have to get two wins before that happens, though. Hey, how about tonight?

Robb_K wrote: ↑

Wed May 19, 2021 8:55 pm

Sanford had a good chance there, but was a little slow to react to the pass. Too bad.