NHL playoffs 2016: Who will win Blues vs. Blackhawks Game 7?
With their backs against the wall as they faced a 3-1 first-round series deficit, the Chicago Blackhawks have pulled even to force Game 7 with the St. Louis Blues.
It all comes down to Monday night's game in St. Louis (8:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN) — the Blackhawks want to keep their hopes of four Stanley Cups in seven years alive, while the Blues aim to end a three-year streak of being ousted in the first round.
Who wins? USA TODAY Sports NHL columnist Kevin Allen and producer/reporter Kristen Shilton weigh in.
Allen: I picked the Blues to win this series, but Chicago is scaring the heebie jeebies out of me. The Blackhawks are the world's leading authority on winning playoff games. But let's not forget that the Blues have been formidable all season. They have overcome injuries to be one of the league's most consistent winners. The Scottrade Center will be crazy-wild. The first goal will be huge.
Shilton: I also picked the Blues to win this series, but it's only right this matchup is coming down to Game 7. Both teams have rallied for impressive comebacks and neither has looked better than the other for long stretches. Now it's a best-of-one, with no other option but to leave everything on the ice. If St. Louis plays the type of complete game its capable of, the Blues will advance to the next round. But the mental advantage, earned from having won in this pressure-filled spot before, still lies with the Blackhawks.
Rangers, GM Jeff Gorton face critical offseason
Allen: It's important for both teams to emphasize staying out of the penalty box because the power play on both ends has been hot. The Blues' are clicking at 31.3% with the man advantage and the Blackhawks are at 27.8%. You have to believe that either St. Louis right wing Vladimir Tarasenko or Chicago right wing Patrick Kane will have a say in who wins here. A Game 7 like this should not be decided by fourth liners or unlikely heroes. Chicago and St. Louis have too many elite players. One of the stars will rise in this one.
Shilton: The Blues have done a sensational job so far of neutralizing Chicago's big guns. Jonathan Toews has no goals and five assists in this series; Patrick Kane has only one goal. I don't see St. Louis losing track of those guys now. On the other hand, the Blackhawks have struggled to keep Tarasenko under control. The Russian superstar has 14 goals in 19 playoff contests (and four goals, two assists in this series) but inexplicably his ice time in Games 5 and 6 (38:24) was less than teammates like Troy Brouwer (45:44) and rookie Robby Fabbri (38:26). Was that by design so Tarasenko could be unleashed in a potential Game 7? If he is, the Blackhawks will have a hard time corralling him.
Blues look to counter with their best in Game 7 vs. Blackhawks
Allen: This is also a perfect time for St. Louis goalie Brian Elliott to prove he can be a big-game playoff goalie. Corey Crawford has two Stanley Cup championships on his resume, and Elliott has surrendered nine goals on the 70 shots he has faced over the past two games. That's an .871 save percentage. Reputations can be built in Game 7s.
Shilton: The response from Chicago the last two games has been fantastic, no doubt. But St. Louis has too much on the line Monday night to let this series slip away. It's not just about moving on in the postseason; it's about proving they are who they say they are. The narrative all series long has been how different this team is from previous ones, and how much they've learned from past mistakes. The Blues arethe more complete team here, and that's no shot at Chicago. This is simply St. Louis' time.
