Blues vs. Bruins results: St. Louis evens series with Carl Gunnarsson OT winner

Rudi Schuller

•
Blues vs. Bruins results: St. Louis evens series with Carl Gunnarsson OT winner image

Carl Gunnarsson's timing couldn't have been better.

The veteran St. Louis Blues defenseman had never scored a playoff goal prior to Wednesday's Game 2 against the Boston Bruins, but his maiden postseason marker was the difference. Gunnarsson's overtime winner helped the Blues claim Game 2 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final by a 3-2 scoreline. The victory evened the series at 1-1, and spared the Blues from having to climb out of a massive hole.

MORE: Watch the Stanley Cup Final live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

The game was a cagey, at times chippy, affair, with no goals scored in regulation after a wild first period. The opening frame featured four goals, two for each side, and seemed to indicate that a high-scoring contest was in the cards.

However, the game tightened up significantly after the opening flurry, with both teams focused on gaining the physical advantage. It led to long stretches without much in the way of offensive flow, but the hockey was still compelling as the teams waged a battle for superiority in ways that didn't show up on the scoreboard.

As time ticked down, the Blues picked up the pace and looked for the winner. St. Louis had spent the entire game holding the shot advantage, and in the final moments of regulation the Blues came excructiatingly close to finding another goal. 

The Blues' offensive thrust continued into the extra frame as they spent significant time in the Bruins end and appeared to be the only team able to break the deadlock. And, 3:51 into overtime, Gunnarsson launched a slapshot from the blueline that screamed past Boston goalie Tuukka Rask and ended the game.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Game 2 between the Bruins and Blues in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. Here's how it all went down:

Blues 3, Bruins 2 (OT): Updates and highlights from Game 2

Overtime

16:09 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 Gunnarsson seals the victory with his first career playoff goal, as the Blues had a man advantage on a delayed penalty. Series tied. Blues 3, Bruins 2.

17:55 - SAVE! Rask comes up big against Blais, who had a free shot from the side of the net.

20:00 - Extra hockey starts now.

Third period

0:00 - That's it, we're going to overtime! Somehow this game stay tied despite a frantic final few minutes. Bruins 2, Blues 2.

0:46 - BIG SAVE! Now it's Binnington's turn to keep the game alive, as he blocks a Pastrnak effort from in close.

2:00 - PING! The Blues hit the post off a huge slap shot by Gunnarsson. Wow.

3:42 - BIG SAVE! Rask stops Maroon from point-blank range. That feels like it was the winner.

4:38 - Bruins get two shots in the power play, but the man advantage ends with no damage done.

6:38 - Schenn gets called for slashing, although it appears as though Acciari's stick broke on its own. Either way, the Bruins are headed for a power play.

7:04 - The Blues have been applying the pressure over the past few minutes, and have outshot the Bruins 7-3 in the period. No goals to show for it, though.

10:26 - The big hits continue. This time Barbashev is crunched by Carlo.

13:04 - The crowd has taken to singing Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer" a capella as the teams comtinue to play tight hockey.

12:25 - And now play is stopped for offside. It's been that kind of period.

15:00 - Once again, time is flying by. There have been few whistles so far in the third period, with all but one coming from the goalies freezing the puck.

20:00 - 20 minutes left in regulation. Will we see a winner in this period?

Second period

0:00 - The horn sounds and the score remains the same. That was definitely a more workmanlike period of hockey than the first, and we'll go to the third with everything to play for. Bruins 2, Blues 2.

2:04 - Well, forget that power play. Schwartz crashes into Rask and is nabbed for goalie interference, and we'll get 4-on-4 hockey.

4:21 - Now it's time for the Blues to get the man advantage, although this time it's a double minor as Clifton is called for high sticking Bozak. St. Louis will be on the PP for most of the remaining time in the period (unless the Blues score, of course).

5:41 - The Bruins fail to score on the power play, and we're back to even strength.

7:41 - Edmundson gets nabbed for tripping and Boston gets another power play.

10:00 - This period is flying by. Lots of back-and-forth, and thie game is quite physical, but there have been few stoppages and, of course, no goals in this period.

14:26 - The penalty is over without incident.

16:26 - The Bruins will have to kill their first penalty of the night after Clifton is called for interference.

20:00 - The second period has started, and we can only hope that it's as crazy as the first.

First period

0:00 - And breathe! A wild first period comes to a close, with the teams still on level terms after four goals. Bruins 2, Blues 2.

0:03 - Sundqvist exits the penalty box.

2:03 - Penalty to the Blues as Sundqvist drills Grzelcyk into the boards. That was a scary one.

5:05 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 And there it is! The fourth goal of the period goes to the Blues, as Tarasenko shows that persistence pasy off. Bruins 2, Blues 2.

6:00 - It's been almost four minutes without a goal. Feels weird after the flurry from earlier.

9:43 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 The Bruins retake the lead quickly off a bad turnover. Nordstrom does well to put it through Binnington's legs. Bruins 2, Blues 1.

10:23 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 Bortuzzo ties it up for the Blues on a hopeful shot that finds its way in. Game on! Bruins 1, Blues 1.

12:15 - Binnington looked shaky on the goal, but he just made a nice save on a David Krecji wrister.

15:16 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 The Blues almost immediately pay for the Blais infraction, as Charlie Coyle scores on Boston's first shot of the game. Bruins 1, Blues 0.

16:05 - The first penalty of the game goes to the Blues, as Sammy Blais takes out Tuukka Rask and is called for goalie interference.

17:56 - It's a physical start to the game as the Blues look to assert themselves early.

20:00 - Here we go! Game 2 is underway.

 

Rudi Schuller