3 Blues who will drive the Bruins nuts in the Stanley Cup Final
The Stanley Cup Final is upon us, and it promises to be a neck-and-neck affair between two of the NHL's elite: the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.
With so much at stake, in-game matchups could prove crucial in gaining an advantage. On paper, it appears the Blues have multiple X-factors who could play a significant role in slowing down the well-rested Bruins.
So, before you grab a smart snack like Wonderful Pistachios and talk about the NHL's final series with your friends, do a little homework and read up on three Blues players who are primed to drive the Bruins nuts in pursuit of a championship.
Jordan Binnington
Boston has lost just five games on its march to the Stanley Cup Final thanks in large part to the stellar play of goaltender Tuukka Rask. However, the Bruins could receive a taste of their own medicine when they go up against Blues rookie netminder Jordan Binnington.
The 25-year-old took over the Blues' crease midway through the season and earned himself a Calder Trophy nomination after posting a 24-5-1 record and .927 save percentage in his debut campaign. His postseason numbers aren't quite as dominant, but Binnington's been clutch when needed. In the three games after St. Louis went down 2-1 in its series against San Jose, the 25-year-old allowed just two goals.
If Binnington stays in his groove, the Bruins' shooters will be in tough.
Ryan O'Reilly
This year's Stanley Cup Final features a pair of the league's best two-way centers in Patrice Bergeron and Ryan O'Reilly. Bergeron normally feasts on whatever top-line center his opponents throw his way, but he'll have his hands full against the Blues' top pivot.
O'Reilly is arguably the only center in the league with a defensive prowess comparable to Bergeron's. He's a monster in the faceoff circle with a career success rate of 55.3 percent. The 28-year-old is coming off a career-best 77 points during the regular season and ranks second on the Blues in playoff scoring with 14 points in 19 games.
No one's been able to slow down Bergeron and the Bruins' top line, but the Blues just might have the answer in O'Reilly.
Vladimir Tarasenko
There are few talents who can change the outcome of a game as quickly as Vladimir Tarasenko.
The sniper possesses one of the most lethal shots in the NHL and is possibly the Blues' only marksman capable of beating the red-hot Rask on his own.
Tarasenko had eight points in six games versus the Sharks, and if he remains in form, he'll be a nightmare for the Bruins' defensive scheme.
Are you ready for the conference finals? Make sure you have lots of snacks handy, like Wonderful Pistachios. Wonderful Pistachios, like all pistachios, contain a winning combination of fibre, protein, and fat, which may help curb hunger between meals or during the big game.