Stanley Cup Final 2019: Three takeaways from Blues' Game 5 win over Bruins

Thomas Lott

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Stanley Cup Final 2019: Three takeaways from Blues' Game 5 win over Bruins image

The Blues are one win away from their first championship.

Thanks to goals from David Perron and Ryan O'Reilly and 38 saves from Jordan Binnington, the Blues defeated the Bruins in Boston to take a 3-2 series lead.

This one was not without controversy, though.

On Perron's goal, Tyler Bozak appeared to not be called for a trip on Noel Acciari, which led directly to the Blues finding the back of the net.

That is what leads our three takeaways.

Here are three takeaways from the Blues' Game 5 win

Referees point of discussion once again

It simply keeps happening. Game after game after game in these Stanley Cup playoffs, the referees are becoming the focus. In the Western Conference semis the Avalanche had a game-tying goal disallowed on a controversial offsides, then in the Western Conference finals, the Sharks scored against the Blues immediately following an uncalled hand pass.

Now, in Game 5, of the Stanley Cup Final, the Blues took a critical 2-0 lead after Tyler Bozak appeared to get away with a trip on Noel Acciari. We can say that all we want, but watch the play for yourself and decide whether it was a trip or not.

That was an absolutely pivotal play because Boston found the net just minutes later to cut the lead to 2-1. If a penalty is called on Bozak, the game is at least tied going into the closing minutes.

We don't really have a solution for this situation ourselves, we just wanted to point out what happened and let you come up with your own conclusion. Was this a trip? Or wasn't it?

Ryan O'Reilly appreciation post

No, Ryan O'Reilly hasn't put the puck in the net all that much this postseason. Coming into Game 5 he had five goals in 23 games and that might get some to suggest he hasn't been all that good. Those people don't know what they're talking about.

While O'Reilly has been very good in the passing game, assisting on 13 goals in 23 games, his defense has truly been where he has excelled. That was glaringly evident in Game 2 when Patrice Bergeron was rendered virtually useless and it has once again been on display in Games 4 and 5, which the Blues have controlled much of the way.

O'Reilly's greatness can't be measured by how many goals he scores, but that doesn't mean he can't put the puck in the net. In fact, he was the player to break the scoreless tie in Game 5. Now does he have your attention?

The special teams difference

In Game 2 the Blues let the Bruins get going with a power-play goal on their first chance of the night. In Game 3, they allowed them to score four times in four power plays on four shots.

Over and over again, it was said the Blues had to be better against the Bruins' power play to get a leg up in this series. Well, in Game 4, St. Louis held Boston to 0 for 2 on the power play, and in Game 5, it held them to 0 for 3.

It isn't a coincidence the Blues won those two games. On prime scoring opportunities, St. Louis kept the Bruins from scoring. That's how teams compete and win.

Thomas Lott