The Stanley Cup Playoffs did not start as many St. Louis Blues fans would have hoped. The team is down two games in the series against the Winnipeg Jets, but they have been competitive. However, the Jets take over when it gets into the third period. The Blues have been outscored four goals to zero in the third period of the first two games, and while there is blame to go around, the lion's share of it should not go to Blues netminder Jordan Binnington.
Binnington has not been spectacular in the first two games, but he has done enough to keep the team in the game, especially in game two. Early in game two, Binnington was on his A-game, making crucial stops on the team's first penalty kill of the night. He continued that play later in the period, making a spectacular save on Mason Appleton after a great play by Vladislav Namestnikov to set up the chance. With the period nearing its end, Mark Scheifele was streaking in on the left side, and it looked like Binnington had it covered, but unlucky for him, Jimmy Snuggerud came charging in trying to break up the play but ended up crashing into his goalie, pushing the puck in the net. Thankfully, three minutes later, Snuggerud made up for his mistake by scoring his first career playoff goal to tie the game with just over a second left in the period.
The second period was more of the same from Binnington. He made crucial saves when the team needed him. His best of the period came once again from an Appleton shot. Brandon Tanev found Appleton for a one-timer attempt backdoor, and Binnington made a great kick save to keep the game tied at one. The Blues' real problem lies in their third-period performances. In games one and two, the Blues have been outshot 16 to 7 in the third period. The team does a good job keeping up with the Jets' physicality in the first two periods, but once it gets to the third, it seems like the Blues run out of gas. You can see the lack of energy in the Jets' game-winning goal. The Blues get caught puck-watching and do not pick up Kyle Connor, who streaks into the slot to put in the game-winner. The Blues need to find a way to play their own game and not get trapped playing the way the Jets want them to.
There is a lot of blame that can go around for why the Blues find themselves down two games to the Jets in this series, but you can not say that it is because of Binnington. We knew this series was going to be a battle. Losing Dylan Holloway before the start of the playoffs made knocking off the Presidents' Trophy winner more difficult. If the Blues want to come back in the series, they need more secondary scoring and to try and find a way to have more pep in their step when the puck drops for the third period. Binnington will be there to keep them in the game, as we saw in game two, but he can only do so much if the team can not bury their chances once the game gets to the third period. The saying is that a series only starts when the away team wins. Let us hope the Blues can stifle the Jets at home and head back to Winnipeg with the series tied at two.