The St. Louis Blues’ biggest fears were realized on Friday night at Scottrade Center. They are, in fact, playoff cursed, and that six-game suspension Duncan Keith just finished serving for slashing Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle in the face only served to refuel Chicago’s best defenseman for the playoff grind ahead.
In his first game since March 29, Keith was Norris Trophy-good for the Blackhawks. He logged a game-high 30:59 of ice time, scored a critical goal with 4.4 seconds remaining in the second period to tie the game, added an assist and broke up at least two golden scoring opportunities. He spearheaded Chicago as it evened the series with the Blues at one game apiece with a 3-2 win before heading back home for Game 3 on Sunday at the United Center.
Most of the chatter surrounding this game will center on two disputed goals. St. Louis wunderkind Vladimir Tarasenko thought he had scored his 12th playoff goal in 15 playoff games to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead early in the third period, but Chicago challenged the goal for offside. The officials negated the goal after a painstaking review determined that Jori Lehtera’s trailing skate was indeed in the air, putting him a fraction of a second offside.
well at least the angles have improved. pic.twitter.com/p1WGpcAax6
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 16, 2016
Less than four minutes later, Chicago pest Andrew Shaw scored off a goalmouth scrum and St. Louis challenged it for goaltender interference after an initial ruling by the league office called it a good goal. The tally stood and that was hard for the Blues to swallow.
Shaw goal pic.twitter.com/v8WJqn1rUI
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 16, 2016
“You don’t like it when it works against you, and you like it when it works for you,” Keith told reporters covering the game. “Caught a break there.”
The greater break for Chicago — one we guessed might materialize — was the rest that Keith enjoyed at the tail end of a grueling season. You can easily argue that the league set the precedent for the length of Keith’s suspension earlier this season, but the fact that Keith got to sit out two-plus weeks and only miss one playoff game is undoubtedly an advantage for Chicago now.
Keith looked fresh and he was the best player on the ice on Friday. He finished with a plus-two rating and he thwarted excellent scoring opportunities by Paul Stastny and Alex Pietrangelo with his best defensive assets, recovery speed, excellent stick work and excellent positioning.
Perhaps his biggest moment came with the Blackhawks about to head to the dressing after their fifth scoreless period in St. Louis. Chicago center Jonathan Toews won a faceoff in the offensive zone and wing Patrick Kane slid the puck back to Keith at the point.
With a lot of traffic in front and St. Louis forward Patrik Berglund offering less than a whole-hearted shot-block attempt, Keith’s high shot eluded goaltender Brian Elliott to end Moose’s magic and draw Chicago even.
Hawks goal pic.twitter.com/4ErSFHtUhG
— Stephanie (@myregularface) April 16, 2016
“Absolutely huge momentum shift,” Kane told reporters.
You could say the same about Friday’s outcome. The Blackhawks are even again, Keith is rested and the Blues are about to be reminded for the 1,000th time that they have won just one playoff series in their previous 12 seasons.
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