Stanley Cup Final: Worst to First for the Blues
Published on June 12, 2019
- It all started Jan. 7 for Jordan Binnington and the Blues when the 25-year-old rookie made 25 saves in a 3-0 win over Philly. What an ending. And he saved his best for last. Absolutely dominating.
- Ryan O'Reilly became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1985 to score in four straight games in the Final. The Conn Smythe is well deserved.
- Craig Berube still has interim beside his title. Guess that won't last long. I love the ovation his players gave him. That says so much.
- Patrick Maroon has to be the most joyful hugger ever. He played his first eight seasons away from his son, but took a pay cut to come home to St. Loo and his family. What a decision now.
- Oh the irony. At one point a few years ago, Binnington was so low on the Blues' depth chart that he was loaned to the Bruins' AHL affiliate to get playing time.
- Binnington is the third rookie in the 13 years to win the Cup. I hope his future fares more like Matt Murray than Cam Ward. Or better – I own him in a keeper league.
- The Blues are a class act. They flew 11-year-old superfan Laila Anderson to Boston for Game 7. And brought her on the ice for part of the celebration.
- Brain cramp. That's the only way to describe Brad Marchand's bad change with seconds left in the first. He gave up. The body language was bad. It told the story for the rest of the game.
- Tuukka Rask was 5-0 with a .973 save percentage – including two shutouts – in elimination games this postseason. It wasn't on him. His performance was Conn Smythe-worthy, even in a losing cause.
- Play Gloria. Really, really loud. The Blues deserve it.
- Worst to first. Anything is possible. This team goes down in history.
