Schwartz’ third period marker keeps Blues alive

Jaden Schwartz sank the game winner 25 seconds into the third period as the Blues snapped a 1-1 draw and kept itself alive in its Best of Seven National Hockey League Central Division final series at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis Friday (May 5, 2017).

The Blues needed the win against Nashville, staving off elimination from a suddenly hot Predators team.

Both teams scored once in the second period, Dmitrij Jaskin opening it with his goal 5:43 into the frame and James Neal responding with his third of the playoffs and third of this series, but the only shot that would get by Blues’ goaltender Jake Allen on this night.

Both goaltenders continued the standout play they have delivered since the opening of the post season, Allen handling 21 of 22 shots while Pekka Rinne stopped 30 of 32 at the other end of the pond.

The Blues face a daunting task ahead as it travels to the Bridgestone Arena on Sunday (May 7) where the Predators have yet to be defeated in the post season. The Blues are the lone Midwest-based team still playing in the NHL post season as the Detroit Red Wings failed to qualify and Chicago BlackHawks, Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets were all first-round casualties.

 

 

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