The series that started as a best of seven is now down to a best of three. The Bruins host game five and seven, if necessary. The way these two teams have slugged it out begs the question: is it even possible not to go to seven games?

Blues vs Bruins Stanley Cup Betting Analysis

Despite the Blues win in game four, they still see themselves underdogs to hoist the Stanley Cup. At Sports Interaction you can get the Blues at +125 to win it, with the Bruins coming in at -152.

At series start, there was a lot of talk that this would be a defensive series. However, in the first four games the over is 3-1. Game four needed a late empty net goal to push it over the total of 5.5, but Brayden Schenn got the job done with 89 seconds remaining. The total for game five is currently listed at 5.5, with the odds of +119 going to the over.

During this post season, the Bruins are a perfect 1-1 in game five situations (did not play a game five versus Carolina). The Blues are 2-1 in game five this playoff year. During the regular season, these two teams split the two games, each winning in their own buildings.

St. Louis Blues

The Blues got what they desperately needed in game four, a win. Ryan O’Reilly scored two goals including one 43 seconds into the game, and played arguably his best game of the playoffs.

Goaltender Jordan Binnington who was lifted from game three, had a great rebound night, to post victory number 14 of these playoffs. Vladimir Tarasenko scored his 11^th goal of the postseason, and now has points in eight of his last nine games.

Of note, the Blues are 8-3 on the road this postseason in 11 games. They’ll need to win at least one more game on the road if hope to finish this thing off.

Boston Bruins

Bad news for the Bruins as they announced Wednesday morning that Captain Zdeno Chara has a “facial injury” and is questionable for game five. Chara took a nasty puck to the face in game four; and there is some talk that the injury is actually a broken jaw. Matt Grzelcyk could return to the line-up for this game. He is currently in concussion protocol, but will have further tests prior to the game.

For the first time in eight postseason games, the Bruins failed to score a power-play goal, going 0-for-2 with the man-advantage. They have 23 power-play goals this post season, which is second in team postseason history, just behind the 24 goal they scored with the man-advantage in 1991.

The team managed to score a short-handed tally, and stopped the Blues power-play attack, not allowing a goal against in three opportunities.

Charlie Coyle continues to be one of the best playoff pick-ups by any team this playoff round. Coyle scored goal number nine of the playoffs in game four. During his 81-game regular season, Coyle managed only 12 goal while splitting time between the Wild and Bruins.

Of note, with a single assist in game four, Brad Marchard has taken over sole possession of top spot in the NHL postseason point race with 21.

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