My Thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final
First off, let me say congratulations to the St. Louis Blues for that insane season! It's hard to believe they were in last place at one point in the season, but I have to give them so much credit. They battled through a head coaching change, multiple goalie changes until Jordan Binnington got the full starting job, and had to fight through the wicked-tough Central Division and Western Conference. The Blues showed that anything is possible with determination, the right group of players and coaches, and the drive to win. I doubt anyone pictured St. Louis to be in the Stanley Cup Final after being in last place. What a way to cap off an unimaginable season!
The Blues' corp really got it done when it mattered most. Ryan O'Reilly really proved to be the difference maker for them when hope seemed to dwindle. Vladimir Tarasenko also had a great playoff run and probably could have won the Conn Smythe if he had notched more goals. But he had some great assists along with linemates Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn, so they deserve as much praise as O'Reilly. O'Reilly played a gritty style of hockey that is fading around the league as it becomes a more offensive game, but NHL coaches love these kinds of players because of their hard-nosed personality. O'Reilly is a work horse and it paid off. St. Louis' defense was a major difference-maker between them and Boston. Alex Pietrangelo proved that he should be regarded as the one of the best 2-Way defenseman in the league, especially after that sick backhand goal in Game 7. The Blues defense was solid defensively despite some tough Games 3 and 6 losses at home. They played a huge part in keeping the Bruins' dangerous offense in check. Binnington definitely had some rookie nerves but he played his best hockey in the most important games and secured his team their first Stanley Cup. All the Blues played extremely physical and laid their bodies out, which might have given them the edge over Boston. I think the future is bright for St. Louis. They have a group of players that can be a consistent contender for a few more seasons. We'll be seeing the Blues in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
Boston played really well, despite how Game 7 went. Brad Marchand proved to be a pest during play and after the whistle but he got some crucial goals for Boston. He might be one of the most hated players in the league but I applaud the guy for his passion and love for winning. Patrice Bergeron was not as useful in the playoffs. He was great in the 2-way game, but offensively he didn't do enough. Without a lot of scoring from him, the Bruins had to find other ways to get the puck in the back of net. That task fell to Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari, Torey Krug, and Brandon Carlo. Zdeno Chara's jaw injury was scary, but damn, that beast kept going and fighting to keep his team in the series. That's real dedication. David Pastrnak could have had a better series, but he had a tough time finding the back of the net. The Blues defense was just too good in critical moments. Tuukka Rask was unreal; if Boston had one, he would have been their Conn Smythe winner without question. He was a reason why the Blues couldn't score in Games 3 and 6 and carried Boston to that seventh game. Despite this hurtful loss, I think we will see the Bruins back in the playoffs for the next few seasons. Their Cup window is closing as Chara, Bergeron, Marchand, David Krecji, and Rask age, so they're going to have play at an extremely high level to keep up with other Atlantic Division teams like Tampa Bay and Toronto. They have a nice mix of young players and seasoned veterans, so expect to see the Bruins back in the Cup race again real soon.
Overall, this was one of the most entertaining and exhilarating Cup Finals series I've seen in a long time. We got a full seven games, some blow outs, and some one-goal-deciding games. It was physical with lots of big hits, entertaining with fancy goals, and exciting with chirping and crowds forming after every whistle. I can't wait to see what next season brings!
The Blues' corp really got it done when it mattered most. Ryan O'Reilly really proved to be the difference maker for them when hope seemed to dwindle. Vladimir Tarasenko also had a great playoff run and probably could have won the Conn Smythe if he had notched more goals. But he had some great assists along with linemates Jaden Schwartz and Brayden Schenn, so they deserve as much praise as O'Reilly. O'Reilly played a gritty style of hockey that is fading around the league as it becomes a more offensive game, but NHL coaches love these kinds of players because of their hard-nosed personality. O'Reilly is a work horse and it paid off. St. Louis' defense was a major difference-maker between them and Boston. Alex Pietrangelo proved that he should be regarded as the one of the best 2-Way defenseman in the league, especially after that sick backhand goal in Game 7. The Blues defense was solid defensively despite some tough Games 3 and 6 losses at home. They played a huge part in keeping the Bruins' dangerous offense in check. Binnington definitely had some rookie nerves but he played his best hockey in the most important games and secured his team their first Stanley Cup. All the Blues played extremely physical and laid their bodies out, which might have given them the edge over Boston. I think the future is bright for St. Louis. They have a group of players that can be a consistent contender for a few more seasons. We'll be seeing the Blues in the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
Boston played really well, despite how Game 7 went. Brad Marchand proved to be a pest during play and after the whistle but he got some crucial goals for Boston. He might be one of the most hated players in the league but I applaud the guy for his passion and love for winning. Patrice Bergeron was not as useful in the playoffs. He was great in the 2-way game, but offensively he didn't do enough. Without a lot of scoring from him, the Bruins had to find other ways to get the puck in the back of net. That task fell to Sean Kuraly, Noel Acciari, Torey Krug, and Brandon Carlo. Zdeno Chara's jaw injury was scary, but damn, that beast kept going and fighting to keep his team in the series. That's real dedication. David Pastrnak could have had a better series, but he had a tough time finding the back of the net. The Blues defense was just too good in critical moments. Tuukka Rask was unreal; if Boston had one, he would have been their Conn Smythe winner without question. He was a reason why the Blues couldn't score in Games 3 and 6 and carried Boston to that seventh game. Despite this hurtful loss, I think we will see the Bruins back in the playoffs for the next few seasons. Their Cup window is closing as Chara, Bergeron, Marchand, David Krecji, and Rask age, so they're going to have play at an extremely high level to keep up with other Atlantic Division teams like Tampa Bay and Toronto. They have a nice mix of young players and seasoned veterans, so expect to see the Bruins back in the Cup race again real soon.
Overall, this was one of the most entertaining and exhilarating Cup Finals series I've seen in a long time. We got a full seven games, some blow outs, and some one-goal-deciding games. It was physical with lots of big hits, entertaining with fancy goals, and exciting with chirping and crowds forming after every whistle. I can't wait to see what next season brings!
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