Updated NHL Playoff Bracket: Blues advance to the second round
Check out an updated NHL playoff bracket after the St. Louis Blues eliminated the Chicago Blackhawks.
St. Louis moves on to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in the last three seasons, while Chicago goes home after round one for the first time since 2012. Neither team is unfamiliar with Game 7s—the Hawks overcame a 3-3 tie last season before winning the Stanley Cup, and current Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville actually led the Blues through their last Game 7-stint in 2003, when they were eliminated by the Canucks. This is St. Louis’ first Game 7 win since 1999.
The Blues held an early lead, scoring after the first minute of regulation and then again in the first period. The Blackhawks were unable to get on the board until Marian Hossa’s end of the first goal. Andrew Shaw tied the game near the middle of the second period, but after that, Chicago was unable to capitalize of offensive opportunities.
Ex-Blackhawk Troy Brouwer scored the game-winning goal in the third period of the dramatic series finale. The goal came at 8:31 into the period and was his first in 24 postseason games since 2013. Brent Seabrook made an attempt to tie the score yet again shortly after, but the puck hit both crossbars before dropping in front of the goal line. The final score had a once goal differential, as the NHL reports was the case 91 percent of the time in the series, at 3-2. The Blues thus won the best-of-seven series 4-3.
The St. Louis Blues will now face Central Division rival, the Dallas Stars, who eliminated the Minnesota Wild in a 4-2 series. The Stars clinched the division with 109 points, while the Blues ended in close second with 107. The series between the top-seeded teams in the Central Division will unquestionably be action-packed and high-energy, as both teams are eager to rebuild their reputations in NHL playoff history.
The Western Conference awaits the winner of the Anaheim Ducks vs Nashville Predators series, which is knotted 3-3 with the Predators winning last night’s Game 6. The winner of this series, which will be determined on Wednesday, April 27 at 10:00 PM ET on NBC Sports Network, will face the San Jose Sharks, who eliminated the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the first round.
That game will be aired tonight on NBC Sports Network at 8:30 PM ET.
For more NHL Playoffs coverage, check out our NHL hub page.