After starting the series on the wrong foot with two losses, the reigning Stanley Cup champions are back.
The St. Louis Blues edged out a 3-1 win in Game 4 of their first-round tie-up to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday to tie the game 2-2.
The Blues were only one goal away in Game 3 to fall behind 0-3 in the series. Brayden Schenn has however offered victory to his team in overtime and St. Louis picked up where he left off for the fourth meet less than 24 hours later.
The Blues took advantage of the end of a power play in the first period to break the ice. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo fired a point shot that missed the mark, but Ryan O’Reilly was well positioned at the mouth of the net to take the rebound back and beat Jacob Markstrom.
The intensity then went up a notch. After a whistle, Antoine Roussel threw the gloves at the expense of Sammy Blais who did not expect it. Roussel sent his rival to the ice before leaving for the locker room. Blais returned to his post later in the game.
The Canucks started the second period strong. Alex Edler’s shot was redirected by JT Miller to the back of the net in the first minute of play.
The door was wide open for St. Louis before the period ended with a two-man power play. Pietrangelo saw his pass end up in the back of the net. On the streak, O’Reilly recorded his third point of the meeting.
Jake Allen, who still got the start in front of the Blues cage, stood out with 22 saves. Markstrom ended his night by turning down 34 pucks.
The two teams will meet on Wednesday for the fifth game.
O’Reilly finds the top of the backhand net
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