There’s not much to say about game three that hasn’t already been said. The Blues were awful. They played with absolutely no discipline whatsoever, took too many stupid penalties. and were generally all-around terrible. The game’s one redeeming feature was the fourth line, who even with Zach Sanford in for Oskar Sundqvist scored at even strength.
So, as a reward for good play - one of the few players who did - Sanford remains in as Sundqvist returns tonight. Robby Fabbri, who had five hits in his 10:19 of ice time, will be a healthy scratch.
Vince Dunn will also be back, taking over for Robert Bortuzzo.
With those two back in the line-up, the Blues will need David Perron and Joel Edmundson to make smarter decisions. Edmundson was fine in game three, but Perron took multiple ill-advised penalties that may shoot what coach Craig Berube wants to accomplish in the foot:
Berbube on mood of team:: “Calmness. I thought we were a lot more calm and business-like in Game 2 in Boston. Game 3, a lot of emotion, being at home, the crowd and all of that. There was a different feel for it, and I feel today that we’re calm again and in that spot.” #stlblues
— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) June 3, 2019
The Blues looked like their pressure turned into the yips after about four or five minutes of play on Saturday evening. Enterprise Center was loud, and it was waiting for the Blues to win their first home playoff game in franchise history. The team saw to it that the fans will have to wait until tonight at the soonest. The Blues are 5-6 at home this postseason, and this isn’t the first time that the team lost game three to come back to win game four. The hand pass in game three of the Sharks lit a fire under the Blues. A 7-2 drubbing by the Bruins should do the same. Let’s hope that it’s a controlled burn.