Stanley Cup FInals 2019: Game 7

Blues Win First Ever Stanley Cup

Photo Credit: Winslow Townson/USA Today Sports

Craig Campbell
​June 13, 2019

Finally, 49 years after their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Final against the Boston Bruins in 1970, The St. Louis Blues avenged their defeat, beating the Bruins 4-1 on their home ice at TD Garden on Thursday.

The Bruins may have entered the game with all of the momentum, pummeling the Blues 5-1 in Game 6, being on their home ice, and getting off to a strong start in the first period. Jordan Binnington had other plans.

Binnington stopped 32 shots on the night with most of his best work coming in the first period. His play kept the Blues in it and even though Boston dominated the first period, the Bruins found themselves down 2-0 after the first 20 minutes. Ryan O’Reilly deflected a shot from Jay Bouwmeester with about three minutes left the captain Alex Pietrangelo scored on a brilliant backhander with 8 seconds left to put the Blues in the driver's seat.

The Bruins didn’t simply roll over and give up, creating chances and outshooting the Blues 33-20, but Binnington was spectacular and slammed the door of hope shut. The Blues tallied two more goals in the third period by Brayden Schenn and Zach Sanford before Boston finally scored with 2 minutes and 10 seconds left in the game, spoiling the shutout.

Ryan O’Reilly was named the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, after breaking a franchise record for most points scored in a postseason (23 points), and with his goal in Game 7, he became the first player since Wayne Gretzky in 1985 to score in four straight Stanley Cup Final games.

No NHL team has waited longer than the Blues, waiting 52 years, to hoist their first Stanley Cup. Now, the Blues faithful don’t have to wait any longer. The St. Louis Blues are FINALLY Stanley Cup Champions.