After a 52-year journey, the St. Louis Blues finally won the Stanley Cup after the Blues defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals by the score of 4-1. Conn Smythe MVP winner Ryan O’Reilly scored the first goal for St. Louis against Bruins’ superstar goalie Tuukka Rask, who had a rare poor game by allowing four goals.
Blues’ rookie goalie Jordan Binnington looked marvelous in net with 32 saves. He allowed one garbage-time goal late in the third period to Matt Grzelck.
Tuukka Rask, who allowed just three goals in the previous two games, recorded only 16 saves on the Blues’ 20 shots on goal.
Craig Berube, who took over the Blues midseason, went all the way from last place to win the Stanley Cup.
“Once we pulled it together, we were tough to beat,” said coach Craig Berube, who took over when Mike Yeo was fired in November.
Berube also made history by becoming the first coach of First Nations decent to win a Stanley Cup.
O’Reilly MVP
Blues GM Doug Armstrong gambled on acquiring Ryan O’Reilly, who had scored 24 goals the season before with the Buffalo Sabres. Armstrong’s offseason moves paid off big time.
O’Reilly, 28, took home MVP honors and the Conn Smythe Trophy for best player in the playoffs. He became the first player since Wayne Gretzky to score goals in four-straight Stanley Cup games.
O’Reilly scored 28 goals on the season, but he only scored thrice in his first 22 playoff games this year, but he saved all his scoring when the Blues needed it the most.
“The guy was a beast all playoffs,” said teammate Brayden Schenn. “He deserves it. He’s a hell of a player.”
“You dream of this for so long,” said O’Reilly. “As a kid, that feeling comes back to you of just what it means to win this thing. I still can’t believe this. I can’t believe I’m here right now and a Stanley Cup champion with this group of guys.”
O’Reilly set a Blues record with 24 points in the playoffs.
Two Quickies
The Blues typically win when they get on the scoreboard first. Ryan O’Reilly scored three minutes into the game. O’Reilly tallied his fifth goal in the previous four games and his 8th overall of the playoffs.
Defenseman and Blues captain Alex Pietrangleo scored on a backhand with eight seconds remaining in the first period. The Blues took a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.
After a scoreless second period, the Blues scored twice more in the third period. With 8:35 remaining, Brayden Schenn scored to put the Blues up 3-0. Zach Sanford added the cherry on top with a goal under five minutes to go to put the game out of reach 4-0. Matt Grzelck scored a meaningless goal for the Bruins with 2:10 remaining to erase a shutout for Binnington.
The Blues held on for the win. Binngington set a new NHL with 17 wins as a rookie goalie. He was previously tied with 16 wins with legends Patrick Roy and Ron Hextall.
Stanley Cup History
The Blues entered the NHL 52 seasons ago and never won… until now.
“To bring a Cup to a city for a first time is crazy. Tough to put into words,” said Blues forward Jaden Schwartz. “These fans have been waiting a long time.”
The Blues no longer hold the longest-active Cupless streak in the NHL. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold that honor with 51 seasons (and counting) without hoisting the Cup.
It’s not easy for Canadian teams in the NHL playoffs in the modern era. Canada’s best hope for a champion these days are the Toronto Raptors.
The Blues broke a streak of three-straight Cup wins for the Eastern Conference.
STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS (SINCE 2009)
2019 St. Louis Blues
2018 Washington Capitals
2017 Pittsburgh Penguins
2016 Pittsburgh Penguins
2015 Chicago Blackhawks
2014 Los Angeles Kings
2013 Chicago Blackhawks
2012 Los Angeles Kings
2011 Boston Bruins
2010 Chicago Blackhawks
2009 Pittsburgh Penguins
Over the last 11 seasons, the Penguins, Blackhawks, and Kings won multiple titles with 8 overall Stanley Cups. Only the Bruins and Caps were not a part of multiple titles since 2009.
The Blues prevented the Bruins from winning their second title since 2011. They also prevented the city of Boston from holding all three major sporting titles at the same time.
Blues fan and gambler, Scott Berry, is also $100,000 richer after his futures bet came in.
