ST. LOUIS — The Stanley Cup Final is all tied at two games apiece as the Blues largely dominated the final two periods with their puck possession in the offensive zone to take Game 4 4-2 on Monday night as the series shifts back to Boston.
The biggest story in the game is Zdeno Chara took a puck to the mouth early in the second period. He returned to the Bruins' bench in the third but did not play as the Bruins' defense again looked tired playing down a man.
The Blues got the jump by scoring less than a minute into the game, but Charlie Coyle evened the game before Vladimir Tarasenko sent the Blues into the intermission with the lead.
The Blues dominated the second period but Brandon Carlo's goal was the only tally.
Ryan O'Reilly banged a rebound home with about nine minutes left for his second goal of the game, and the Bruins only had one shot on goal from there on out.
___________________
- After a Game 3 blowout, the Bruins aren’t tweaking their lineup at all — with John Moore remaining in the lineup in place of Matt Grzelcyk. While Grzelcyk is still in the concussion protocol, Bruce Cassidy noted that the defenseman is “better than where he was” and could return at some point this series.
- The Blues, meanwhile, are shuffling up their lineup quite a bit, with fourth liner Zach Sanford promoted into a top-six role and Oskar Sundqvist returning to game action after serving a one-game suspension for his hit on Grzelcyk. Puck-moving defenseman Vince Dunn — who hasn’t played since Game 3 of the Western Conference Final after taking a puck to the mouth — is also set to return.
- A team has won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead in the Final on 27 occasions since it became a best-of-seven in 1939, winning the Cup all 27 times. Overall, a team has had a 3-1 series lead in the Final 34 times since 1939, winning the Cup 33 times (97.1%) - with 1942 being the lone exception.
- Tuukka Rask’s 1.97 goals-against average as a visitor in the playoffs ranks second in NHL history among goaltenders with at least 30 road appearances - behind only Turk Broda (1.87 GAA in 48 GP).
- Jordan Binnington, who owns a career record of 12-2-0 after a loss of any kind in the NHL, is 6-2 in that scenario during the playoffs (1.84 GAA, .935 SV%).