Blues Lineup:
Forwards: Jaden Schwartz/Jori Lehtera/Vladimir Tarasenko...Alexander Steen/Paul Stastny/Troy Brouwer...Robby Fabbri/Patrik Berglund/David Backes...Scottie Upshall/Kyle Brodziak/Ryan Reaves
Defense: Jay Bouwmeester/Alex Pietrangelo...Joel Edmundson/Kevin Shattenkirk...Carl Gunnarsson/Colton Parayko
Goalie: Brian Elliott
Game Highlights:
The Blues returned home tonight for game 3 in these playoffs against the Stars. The Stars would push early. Elliott would be tested just four minutes into the game. Jamie Benn would be denied by Elliott off a rebound chance.
The Blues unfortunately would give up the first goal of the game tonight. Colton Sceviour would score off another rebound chance that was given up by Elliott.
(Spoiler) That would be the last time that Dallas would get a puck past Elliott. That Dallas lead would last less than a minute. (57 seconds for those of you scoring at home) Alexander Steen would get the good guys on the board with a wrist shot that found the top corner of the net past Stars starter Antti Niemi.
The Blues weren't done scoring in the first. David Backes would find the back of the net on one of several powerplay chances for the Blues. (Seven. The Blues had SEVEN powerplay opportunities) It was a great deflection in front for the 2-1 Blues lead.
At the very end of the first, it looked as if the Stars had tied the game. The Stars would nail the crossbar, the puck would bounce down in front of the goal line, but Backes was there to make sure it never crossed the line.
Moving ahead to the dreaded second period. Something would happen tonight. Not sure if someone sacrificed a live chicken or what, but the Blues had an outstanding second. (While we here at Gametime don't condone sacrificing live animals...a good bucket of KFC would do in a pinch) Less than three minutes into the period, Troy Brouwer would skate past the Dallas defense (the word defense being used loosely here) and bury one past Niemi for the 3-1 Blues lead.
More goal scoring for the Blues in the second. Just over a minute later, Vladimir Tarasenko would add another goal to the dreaded two goal lead. Blues would go up 4-1. Also, in case anyone missed it Kari Lehtonen was into the game. It didn't matter though as the Blues would still find the back of the net.
The Blues would score yet ANOTHER goal in the second period. This time with about 2 minutes to go, on the second of two powerplay goals, Alexander Steen would squirt one past Lehtonen. While Lehtonen made the initial save, it would still have enough momentum to make its way to the back of the net.
It was 5-1 Blues at the end of two, and needless to say newest Blues fan Tony X was enjoying himself...
The Blues would add one more goal in the third. David Backes would find the back of the net for the second time tonight. This time it was a wrist shot that would find its way past Lehtonen to make it 6-1 Blues.
That wouldn't be the biggest thing that would happen in the third period though. After a fight between Ryan Reaves and Curtis MacKenzie on his way back to the locker room he would blow a kiss to the Dallas bench. He promptly broke Blues twitter.
With that, the Blues kissed the Stars goodnight and blew them out of Scottrade 6-1. The Blues would outshoot the Stars 39-26 and would include out shooting them 16-10 in the second period. This was the most complete game of the playoffs so far for the team. They held the Stars scoreless on the powerplay in the four chances that they had. Game 4 will be Thursday night at 7 at Scottrade. Don't forget to pick up a Gametime. Tell your friends.
From the Twitter Machine:
Ryan Reaves crying Jordan kiss edition.
Alex Steen's postgame comments:
Was really classy of Hitch to go out of his way to mention this in his post game. (Thoughts and prayers from all of us here as well)
And Finally, just because it's true:
Three Stars:
Third - David Backes (2 goals, now has 5 in the postseason. Playing for that new contract)
Second - Vladimir Tarasenko (1 goal, 2 assists. Still worried about his playing time, or can we can that already?)
First - Alexander Steen - (2 goals, sure nose the back of the net. *get it because he has a big honkin' nose?*)
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