A Fitting End to the 2018-19 Season

The 2018-19 Season ended in a historic play off run and season for the Saint Louis Blues bringing home their first Stanley Cup Championship.

On January 3rd, 2019 the St. Louis Blues were in dead last for points in the NHL standings. What followed turned what was the laughing stock of the NHL into a magical team that will go down in NHL history forever. On January 7th, 2019 rookie goal-tender Jordan Binnington recorded a shut out against the Philadelphia Flyers on his first NHL start. In Jordan Binnington's first twenty starts since January 7th, Jordan Binnington recorded 5 shut outs in his first twenty games and had a record of 16-3-1 with a 1.70 goals-against average, and a .933 save percentage. Binnington led the St. Louis Blues from last place to clinch a play off spot on March 29th, 2019.

Reporter: "Is it nerve-racking for you? It seems like pretty exciting hockey?" Binnington: "Do I look nervous?" Reporter: "No." Binnington: "There’s your answer"

The Play Off Run

The St. Louis Blues' first round was against Patrik Laine and the Central Division's second place Winnipeg Jets. The first two games were held in Winnipeg, but the blues were able to come together and win the first two games of the series, winning a close game one two to one, scoring both goals in the third after trailing by one, and winning game two, four to three, with the help of Oskar Sundqvist scoring two goals and Ryan O'Reilly scoring a clutch third period goal. Although the Blues had a strong start in Winnipeg they fell flat at home losing game three with a score of three to six, and game four with a score of one to two in overtime. The teams went back to Winnipeg for game five, winning three to two with the help of Jaden Schwartz scoring in the third with less than a minute remaining. Game six was brought back to St. Louis where the Blues won their first home game of the series three to two with the help of an on fire Jaden Schwartz scoring a hat trick sending them to the second round.

The Blues faced Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars in the second round. The series was a back and forth battle between the two teams with the Blues winning game one at home, three to two. The Stars took game two with a score of four to two. The blues bounced back and were able to find their footing in Dallas, taking game three with a score of four to three. Dallas was able to bring a victory at home though in game four winning with a score of four to two. Game five was brought back to St. Louis where Dallas was able to take another win with a score of two to one bringing Dallas to a series score of three to two. The blues were able to rebound and win game six, with a score of four to one, and game seven, with a score of two to one in overtime where St. Louis native Pat Maroon scored the game winning goal, thus allowing St. Louis to move on to the Western Conference Final.

The Western Conference Final was against Brent Burns and the San Jose Sharks. The first two games were held in San Jose where the Sharks were able to take game one with a score of six to three embarrassing the blues in the Conference Final opener. The Blues were able to forget about the first game and bring an away victory at San Jose with a score of four to two. Games three and four were brought to St. Louis were San Jose was able to take game three in overtime, with a very controversial goal, with a score of five to four. This controversial goal seemed to fire the Blues up as they went on to win game four, five, and six in a very convincing fashion. Game four resulted in a score of two to one, game five resulted in a score of five to zero, and game six resulted in a score of five to one. The Blues won the Western Conference Final four to two and were headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in forty-nine years.

The Stanley Cup Final

The St. Louis Blues were up against the winner of the Eastern Conference Final the Boston Bruins. The first two games were away games in Boston for the Blues. Boston took game one with a tough comeback which resulted in a score of four to two. The Blues were able to take game two in Boston in overtime, with a score of three to two, with the help of Carl Gunnarsson burying one during OT. Game three was brought back to St. Louis where Boston came prepared to a hostile crowd and beat the Blues seven to two at their home debut in the final. With the help of Ryan O'Reilly scoring two goals the Blues were able to take game four winning giving the Blues their first home victory in a Stanley Cup Final ever. The Blues went back to Boston where they were able to string together two victories winning game five two to one. Game six was brought back to St. Louis where Boston was able to tie up the series for the third time winning with a score of five to one. St. Louis went back to Boston for a crucial game seven where they were able to put four past Tuukka Rask and win the Stanley Cup with a score of four to one in game seven, bringing home St. Louis' first Stanley Cup in NHL history. The fifty-two year long wait was finally over putting an end to the longest Stanley Cup drought currently in the NHL.