Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily Picks: Blues, Senators try to extend series – CBSSports.com
The St. Louis Blues aim to stave off elimination in Minnesota. (USATSI)
Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily Picks, where CBS hockey writers Chris Peters and Adam Gretz get you ready for every game every day of the postseason and share their predictions for each.
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. ET, NBC, Game 6
Series: Wild lead 3-2
The Blues face their worst nightmare with the series going back to Minnesota for Game 6. One more loss and they’ll suffer their third consecutive first-round exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. With the roster they have, it shouldn’t be happening, but such is life in the Western Conference these days.
The Wild have a 3-2 series lead and a chance to clinch on home ice. This matchup has been full of massive swings, perhaps no greater than the one from Game 4 to Game 5. The Wild slogged through an embarrassing 6-1 loss at home in Game 4 before rebounding with a 4-1 win in St. Louis.
In a postseason that has been full of close games, every game in this series has come with a margin of victory of two goals or more. You never quite know what you’re going to get. A lot of it is going to depend on how well the goaltenders play.
Devan Dubnyk was dreadful in Game 4, but a superstar in Game 5. Jake Allen is coming off his worst performance of the postseason in which two of Minnesota’s Game 5 goals came off of botched saves.
One of the biggest questions heading into Game 6 is how the Blues handle the pressure of potentially dropping a series despite having home-ice advantage and being one of the league’s best teams throughout the regular season. It would be hard to blame them if doubt has crept in, but there’s really no time for that.
St. Louis can play with some confidence knowing the last time it was in this building, it blew the barn doors off of the Wild. But this is an entirely different situation. Either way, the Blues will be going home after Game 6; it’s up to them to decide if there will be another hockey game when they get back to St. Louis. Pick: Blues 3, Wild 2
Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m. ET, NBCSN, Game 6
Series: Canadiens lead 3-2
The Senators are doing that thing they did at the end of the regular season, where they start getting hot and no one can seem to stop them. Granted, it has only been two games, but knowing they can go on a run has to have the Canadiens a little nervous heading back to Ottawa for Game 6.
The Senators have played loose, with little to lose having started the series in a 3-0 hole. Only four teams in history have completed the 3-0 comeback, but this was a charmed team from late February on. If there’s any leftover magic, perhaps they can push this one to Game 7.
Ottawa could have some injuries to contend with, not the least of which to Clarke MacArthur, who has been a key performer for Ottawa. J.G. Pageau also could miss the game. Those would be no small losses, but both are currently listed as day-to-day, so they could be back in yet.
The Canadiens meanwhile have to get their minds right. They lost their composure in Game 5 and resorted to extra stuff between whistles to try to rattle the Senators. It didn’t work and probably won’t work.
Like series often do, this could end up coming down to goaltending. Ottawa has gotten nothing but excellence from Craig Anderson since he took over for Andrew Hammond. Anderson has allowed just three goals on 123 shots. He can help steal them games. Meanwhile, Carey Price is at the other end and coming off one of his shakiest performances of the postseason. How often does he have two bad starts in a row? He should be a lot tougher to beat in Game 6.
The Sens have the benefit of playing at home, but if they didn’t get the Habs’ attention after staving off elimination in Game 4, they should have it now with a chance to tie the series. Pick: Canadiens 3, Senators 1
Three stars
1. Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens: With the Habs suffering back-to-back losses and Price coming off a so-so start in Game 5, he should have the goods in Game 6. The Canadiens netminder and likely Vezina Trophy winner has a .923 save percentage in five starts. He will probably have to be their best player to get the right result.
2. Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues: No matter what the Blues look like game-to-game, Tarasenko is always a threat. He leads all players with six goals in the playoffs and he has only taken 12 shots. Every time he steps out there, he’s the most dangerous player on the ice. The Blues need him to take advantage of the chances he gets because you know he’ll at least get a few good looks, like usual.
3. P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens: The Senators made Subban very, very angry in the last game. He was mad enough to earn a misconduct penalty toward the end of Game 5. The Sens could ask the Boston Bruins what Subban looks like when he’s angry in the playoffs. It usually doesn’t end up well for the team playing the Canadiens. Subban has just three points in the series, but has registered 21 shots on goal. One way or another, expect him to be a factor in Game 6.
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