Boston Bruins: Stanley Cup Finals now a three-game chess match

The 2019 Stanley Cup Final is now a three game series. The Boston Bruins have two of the potential three games at home.

After absolutely dismantling the St. Louis Blues 7-2 in Game 3, the Boston Bruins fell in Game 4; losing 4-2.

With the series now shifting back to Boston for Game 5, the Bruins are in a must win situation as they do not want to go back to St. Louis down 3-2 for a potential clinching Game 6.

This has been a back-and-forth series so far. The teams have traded victories through the first four games. The losing team has responded and bounced back to pick up the victory the next game after taking a loss.

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In Game 3, the Bruins were all over the Blues. Boston scored 3 goals in the first, 2 in the second and 2 more in the third period. They were lighting up the scoreboard, and lighting up Jordan Binnington; forcing a goalie change halfway through the second period.

Game 4 was the complete opposite. After a back and forth opening period, Boston found themselves down 2-1. The black and gold responded in the second with a shorthanded Brandon Carlo goal. The third period is where the Blues took control of the game scoring 10:38 in and never looked back.

The Boston Bruins looked like they didn’t want to be there in the third period of Game 4. St. Louis out-shot Boston 13-4 in the third period. The Blues also out-shot the Bruins 38-23 for the whole game. When you get out shot like that, you’re going to lose majority of the time. T

he Bruins team that showed up for Game 3 was not the team that showed up for Game 4; we need that team back on the ice Thursday night for Game 5.

Best of three

With the series even at two games a piece, Game 5 is in Boston Thursday night. It goes without saying that this is the most important game for the Boston Bruins so far. Game 5 is a must win, no matter the cost.

The last thing you want, is to go back to St. Louis down 3 games to 2; where the Cup will be in the building and the Blues looking to end the season. After a dreadful finish to Game 4, I would hope and expect the Bruins come out flying; especially on home ice.

The Bruins need to take advantage of the power play Thursday night. Game 3, Boston was 4-4 on the advantage. In Game 4, the Bruins were 0-2. Scoring while the other team is in the box is going to be one of the deciding factors in who comes within 1 game of hoisting the cup.

With Zdeno Chara now diagnosed with a broken jaw; there comes the question of whom to pair with Charlie McAvoy on the top line defense. Some potential candidates to take his spot are Steven Kampfer, Jeremy Lauzon, or Urho Vaakanainen.

The latter of which who are 22 and 20 respectively. Throwing a young defenseman into the midst of a physical Cup Final could prove to be either a terrible decision, or a great one. There isn’t any better way to prove yourself than to come into a war of a series like this one and elevate your game. Whoever gets the opportunity can hopefully rise to the occasion.

However Bruce Cassidy decides to construct the roster for Game 5, all players will have the same goal; take a 3-2 lead. The Boston Bruins have to come out and put forth their best effort of the season, or there might not be much of a season left.

Go B’s.