- Vancouver Canucks eliminated the reigning Stanely Cup winners, the St. Louis Blues, 6-2 last night.
- With this victory, the Canadian team closed the series in six matches, eliminating the champs.
- Montreal Canadiens suffered a loss to Philadelphia Flyers and ended this year’s campaign.
Canucks Knock Out the Champ
Many hoped that Travis Green’s team might defeat the Blues, especially after champions’ poor performances in recent times. However, nobody dared to say it out loud.
Last night the Canucks sliced the team from St. Louis, 6-2, scoring four straight goals until the middle of the second, not allowing a single one on the other side.
“That’s why we’re here. We played a good game for 60 minutes and a great series. We executed well, and it always feels good when you play like that, and it pays off, and you win the series,” said Jay Beagle, who opened the show, with a goal after 3:45 of the match.
Antoine Rousell, Troy Stecher, and Brock Boeser added one each in the next 25 minutes to once again force Craig Berube to switch goalies during the game. Jordan Binnington was once again chased away from the net, with Jake Allen replacing him.
Binnington was the central piece in the Blues’ playoff run last year, becoming the biggest sensation of the entire season with his performances in the crucial moments. Fortunately for the Canucks, he was way below that level now.
Jaden Schwartz scored two goals for the Blues, and Tyler Motte did the same for the winners.
Vancouver’s goalie, Jacob Markstrom, posted 34 saves, and the way he plays resembles Binnington’s situation from the previous playoffs. In the last six matches, Markstrom was under heavy pressure, but he eventually beat all that to become the leading player of his crew, and the one who boosts the morale of all the others.
“That’s why we’re here. We played a good game for 60 minutes and a great series. We executed well, and it always feels good when you play like that, and it pays off, and you win the series,” he said after the match.
Canucks now meet Vegas Golden Knights, who eliminated Chicago Blackhawks.
Canadiens End Their Run
Montreal Canadiens lost to Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 with 3-2, suffering elimination from the playoffs. The Habs entered the third period being down one goal, imposing a high-intensity battle, but without success in changing the result.
They had 13 shots toward the goal in that sequence alone, but without scoring a single one. Flyers’ Carter Hart was superb with 31 during the entire game saves, preventing all the attacks Montreal had.
“The commitment was there, the effort was there. They were just fortunate to get a couple bounces early, and we just couldn’t seem to find our break,” said the Canadiens’ captain Shea Weber.
Ivan Provorov and Kevin Hayes scored two goals for Philly in the opening frame, and Nick Suzuki, one for the rivals. Michael Raffl rose to 1-3, before Suzuki once again netted, at 6:05 of the second, for the final result.
The Flyers play with New York Islanders in the next round.
