GAME 5 OFFICIALS
The referees for tonight’s game are Steve Kozari (No. 40) and Kelly Sutherland (No. 11). The linesmen are Greg Devorski (No. 54) and Pierre Racicot (No. 65).
GAME 5 TRENDS
* This marks the 26th time that the Stanley Cup Final has been tied 2-2 under the best-of-seven format (since 1939). The winner of Game 5 in that scenario ultimately has captured the Stanley Cup on 18 of the past 25 occasions (72.0%).
* When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2 (regardless of round), the winner of Game 5 holds an all-time series record of 210-58 (.784), including a 5-3 (.625) mark in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
* The Bruins own an all-time series record of 14-3 (.824) when winning Game 5 after being tied 2-2 under the best-of-seven format. The Blues are 8-1 (.889) when winning Game 5 in that scenario.
* Boston has been tied 2-2 in the Stanley Cup Final on four previous occasions, losing Game 5 each time but also winning the Stanley Cup once (2011 vs. VAN: 4-3 W). The other three scenarios: 1958 vs. MTL (2-4 L), 1978 vs. MTL (2-4 L) and 2013 vs. CHI (2-4 L).
* St. Louis is contesting a Game 5 in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.
* Regardless of the outcome of Game 5, the Bruins own an all-time series record of 18-16 (.529) when a best-of-seven series is tied after four games. The Blues are 10-15 (.400) in that scenario.
* Boston is 35-44 (.443) in 79 all-time Game 5s under the best-of-seven format, including a 1-1 record this postseason. The Bruins are 28-22 (.560) overall in Game 5s at home (1-1 this year).
* St. Louis is 23-26 (.469) in 49 all-time Game 5s under the best-of-seven format, including a 2-1 clip this postseason. The Blues are 7-16 (.304) overall in Game 5s on the road (2-0 this year).
* Boston owns a 4-1 record in Games 5-7 of series this postseason (2-1 in R1 vs. TOR, 2-0 in R2 vs. CBJ), outscoring opponents 17-8 in those contests.
* St. Louis has a 6-1 record in Games 5-7 of series this postseason (2-0 in R1 vs. WPG, 2-1 in R2 vs. DAL, 2-0 in CF vs. SJS), outscoring opponents 23-9 in those outings.
* This marks the 16th time in the last 20 years that the Stanley Cup Final will require at least six games. There has not been a single sweep in that span nor has there been consecutive years without at least a six-game series.
HOME/ROAD SPLITS
* The Bruins own a 7-4 record at TD Garden this postseason, outscoring opponents 37-25 on home ice while clicking at 25.0 percent on the power play (9-for-36) and 89.7 percent on the penalty kill (26-for-29). Seventeen different players have scored at least one goal for Boston at TD Garden this postseason, tied for the most unique goal-scorers by one team on home ice in a playoff year (also 1984 EDM, 1991 PIT and 2014 LAK).
* The Blues are 8-3 as visitors this postseason, outscoring opponents 36-28. Only five teams in NHL history have earned more road wins in a single playoff year: the 1995 Devils (10-1), 2012 Kings (10-1), 2000 Devils (10-2), 2018 Capitals (10‑3) and 2004 Flames (10-4).
* Goaltender Tuukka Rask has started all 11 home games for Boston this postseason, compiling a 2.09 goals-against average and .928 save percentage. Jordan Binnington has played all 11 road games for St. Louis, totaling a 2.38 goals-against average, .914 save percentage and one shutout.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TIGHTLY CONTESTED STANLEY CUP FINAL
Three of the four games thus far in the Stanley Cup Final have been decided by one goal, or two goals following an empty-net strike. Overall, the series has been tied or within one goal for 80.7 percent of total playing time. A breakdown:
Time Tied
Separated by 1 Goal
Separated by 2 Goals
Separated by 3+ Goals
Total Time
104:28 (42.8%)
92:29 (37.9%)
6:44 (2.8%)
40:10 (16.5%)
243:51
The Bruins and Blues have held leads for similar times, with Boston doing so for 30.1 percent of total playing time (73:23) and St. Louis at 27.1 percent (66:00).
BOSTON, RASK LOOK FOR ANOTHER BOUNCE-BACK PERFORMANCE
Neither team has strung together consecutive wins thus far in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Bruins are looking to improve upon their 5-1 record following a loss this postseason. Their .833 winning percentage in that scenario ranks behind only the Avalanche (4-0, 1.000) and just ahead of the Blues (7-2, .778) in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask owns a 5-1 record, 2.01 goals-against average and .940 save percentage on the heels of a defeat this postseason. St. Louis netminder Jordan Binnington is 7-2 with a 1.86 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in that scenario.
The Bruins and Blues also were among the best teams following a loss during the regular season. Boston’s .672 points percentage (19-8-5) ranked fifth in the NHL, while St. Louis placed eighth at .649 (23-12-2).
COYLE AIMS TO EXTEND GOAL STREAK, JOIN SHORT LIST
Bruins center Charlie Coyle (9-7—16 in 21 GP) scored for a third straight contest in Game 4 (3-1—4) to tie Patrice Bergeron (9-8—17 in 21 GP) for the team lead in goals this postseason.
Coyle, who was acquired prior to the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline, is seeking to become the 14th player in NHL history to score in four consecutive Stanley Cup Final games and first since Edmonton’s Wayne Gretzky in 1985 (7-4—11 in 4 GP vs. PHI). Two Bruins players have achieved the feat: Johnny Bucyk in 1970 (6-0—6 in 4 GP vs. STL) and Roy Conacher in 1939 (5-2—7 in 4 GP vs. TOR).
Coyle, who made his Bruins debut on Feb. 23 (against the Blues), can become the seventh player in NHL history to reach the 10-goal mark in a playoff year after being acquired during the regular season. Marian Gaborik was the last to do so, registering 14 postseason goals with the Kings en route to their 2014 Stanley Cup victory.
Overall, Coyle’s production this postseason already has surpassed his totals from 44 career playoff games prior to 2019 (7-8—15).
SPECIAL TEAMS AGAIN IGNITE BRUINS . . .
Although their streak of seven consecutive games with at least one power-play goal came to an end in Game 4, the Bruins again were aided offensively by their special teams. Boston’s penalty kill went 3-for-3 while also contributing the tying goal in the second period.
Defenseman Brandon Carlo became the fourth player in NHL history to score his first career playoff goal while shorthanded in the Stanley Cup Final. The others (all defensemen): Bucko McDonald (1936), Bob Turner (1962) and Serge Savard (1968).
Carlo also registered the first shorthanded goal by a defenseman in the Stanley Cup Final (regardless of career goal number) since 2000, when New Jersey’s Scott Niedermayer scored in Game 6 at DAL.
Overall, Carlo recorded the 10th shorthanded playoff goal by a Bruins defenseman (regardless of round) and first since 1988 (Gord Kluzak: Game 1 of DSF vs. BUF).
. . . PUT TEAM IN RARE COMPANY
Defenseman Brandon Carlo became the 20th different player to score a goal for the Bruins in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, one shy of the single-year NHL record set by the 1987 Flyers (21). Five other teams have had 20 different goal-scorers in a single postseason: the 1984 Oilers, 1986 Blues, 1991 Penguins, 1993 Maple Leafs and 1995 Devils.
Only two skaters who have played a game for Boston this postseason have yet to score a goal: John Moore (7 GP) and Karson Kuhlman (6 GP).
BLUES SEEK ANOTHER FAST START
Center Ryan O’Reilly (2-0—2) scored 43 seconds after the opening face-off in Game 4, marking the Blues’ third goal in the first minute of a game this postseason. The others: Jaden Schwartz at 0:23 in Game 6 of R1 vs. WPG (3-2 W) and Ivan Barbashev at 0:35 in Game 4 of CF vs. SJS (2-1 W).
O’Reilly, who added the winning goal at 10:38 of the third period, posted his first career multi-goal playoff game (36 GP). He became the second St. Louis player to register a multi-goal performance in the Stanley Cup Final, following Red Berenson in 1968 (Game 3 at MTL: 2-0—2).
O’Reilly can become the 12th different player in NHL history to score multiple goals in consecutive Stanley Cup Final games and first since Vancouver’s Geoff Courtnall in 1994 (Games 5-6 vs. NYR: 4-0—4).
BINNINGTON NEARS ROOKIE MARKS
Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (21 SV) earned his 14th playoff win in Game 4, one shy of the single-year rookie record achieved by four players in NHL history: Patrick Roy (15-5 in 1986 w/ MTL), Matt Murray (15-6 in 2016 w/ PIT), Cam Ward (15-8 in 2006 w/ CAR) and Ron Hextall (15-11 in 1987 w/ PHI). Of those four, only Hextall did not capture the Stanley Cup.
Binnington – who is 14-9 with a 2.52 goals-against average, .909 save percentage and one shutout this postseason – improved to 7-2 following a loss in the playoffs (1.86 GAA, .933 SV%). Only three goaltenders have earned more such wins within a single postseason: Nikolai Khabibulin (8-0 in 2004 w/ TBL), Hextall (8-2 in 1987 w/ PHI) and Miikka Kiprusoff (8-3 in 2004 w/ CGY).
Binnington owns an 8-3 record on the road this postseason (2.38 GAA, .914 SV%, 1 SO), tied with Hextall (8-5 in 1987 w/ PHI) for the most such wins by a rookie in a single playoff year.
TARASENKO CLOSES IN ON FRANCHISE RECORDS
Right wing Vladimir Tarasenko scored in Game 4 to continue his climb up the Blues’ record book. The seven-year NHL veteran now has 33 career playoff goals (67 GP, all w/ STL), two shy of matching Bernie Federko (35 in 91 GP) for second place in franchise history.
Tarasenko also has 11 goals this postseason (11-5—16 in 23 GP), two back of Brett Hull’s single-year team record set in 1990 (13-8—21 in 12 GP). Teammate Jaden Schwartz (12-6—18 in 23 GP) currently is one goal shy of Hull’s mark.
REMINDER: STANLEY CUP FINAL INFORMATION GUIDE
The 2019 Stanley Cup Final Information Guide – featuring a statistical look at the Blues-Bruins matchup as well as box scores from every Stanley Cup Final in NHL history – is available for download via
the League’s Media site.
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