The St. Louis Blues are on the brink of elimination, and their last, best chance is coming up in game six. As it stands right now, the Blues have not lost in their last 14 games at the Enterprise Center, and to make sure that it isnt the end of their season, they have to do everything they can to make it to 15.
There are three players who were not so great in their 5-3 deflating loss in game five against the Winnipeg Jets. These players must be difference makers in game six, or the series and season are over.
Jordan Kyrou
One player who was very silent in game five was superstar Jordan Kyrou. The player who scored the most goals for the Blues in the regular season has been held to just two goals through the five games of this series. He has not gotten on the board with any helpers.
In game five, Kyrou was especially quiet and had little to no impact on the game at all. He was a -3 on the scoresheet and only contributed a total of one shot on goal in 16:57 of ice time. He was out there getting some cardio in.
He will be in the spotlight for game six, as he was a pivotal member of game three’s 7-2 win. Kyrou has to step in for game six.
Pavel Buchnevich
Pavel Buchnevich etched his name in Blues playoff lore in game three with his first career playoff hat trick. Since then, he has only aided with an assist in game four’s victory and was non-existent in game five.
He fared better than Kyrou did in their recent loss, but could have been more involved. The Blues do not need another act of heroism from Buchnevich in trying to get three goals past Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, but he does need to get on the goal log.
Jordan Binnington
This series has been highlighted by the goaltender battle between Jordan Binnington and the aforementioned Hellebuyck. These two have shown that they are amongst the elite in the NHL, and these skaters are having a hard time getting by them.
After Hellebuyck was pulled from games three and four, the momentum was in the Blues favor for game five. But Binnington was not at his best, and the Jets offense took full advantage by getting four goals past him for the second time this series. Seemingly, he cannot keep the Blues in the game on the road, but he was fantastic on home ice.
Let’s hope that continues in game six, or else this Cinderella season is over.