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But as they return home for Game 3 with the
Boston Bruins on Saturday night, the Blues will have to play
without Sundqvist. Tied for the team lead in plus-minus during
the playoffs, Sundqvist has been suspended for a game after the
NHL sanctioned his hit on Matt Grzelcyk.
Sundqvist was assessed a minor for boarding on the play, in
which Grzelcyk appeared to lose an edge along the boards when
Sundqvist belted him with a shoulder. Grzelcyk's head struck the
glass and he crumpled to the ice.
During the postseason, Sundqvist has four goals and five assists
while playing a key role on the penalty-killing unit. It was
already a breakthrough season for the Swede, who had career
highs of 14 goals and 17 helpers in 74 games.
"Sunny has always been a good defensive player, penalty killer
for us, hard-working guy," said Blues interim coach Craig Berube
Thursday prior to the suspension. "His offensive side has really
come through this year, scoring quite a few goals during the
regular season.
"Been a real good player for us in the playoffs. He's playing a
real good 200-foot game. We kind of use him in all different
situations."
With Sundqvist on the shelf until Monday, St. Louis could turn
to Zach Sanford as his replacement. Sanford hasn't played since
Game 3 of the team's first-round series with Winnipeg on April
14. Another possibility could be the return of Robert Thomas,
who missed Wednesday night's game after absorbing a ferocious
open-ice hit by Torey Krug in Game 1.
Berube did confirm on Friday that two-time NHL All-Star Vladimir
Tarasenko will be in the lineup. The 27-year-old, who led the
Blues with 33 goals this season, missed part of the second
period in the team's overtime win in Game 2 at Boston. Berube
told media members that an equipment issue was the cause of
Tarasenko's missed shifts in the victory.
Regardless, the Blues did their job in Boston. By countering a
4-2 loss Monday night with a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2, they
are in position to win the series as long as they carry their
home games.
"I don't think I'll be able to describe what it's going to be
like," St. Louis center Ryan O'Reilly said of the anticipated
atmosphere in Enterprise Center. "We're excited to get back home
and show what this town's about."
The Bruins haven't exactly been cowed by a roaring crowd pulling
against them, though. They are 6-2 on the road in the playoffs,
including a Game 6 win in the first round at Toronto when a loss
would have sent them to the first tee the next day.
Boston has also won its last four playoff games on the road
since a 2-1 defeat in Game 3 of its Eastern Conference semifinal
at Columbus.
"I don't anticipate they'll be overwhelmed," Bruins coach Bruce
Cassidy said. "I suspect St. Louis will be up, should be. We got
a veteran crew. They've been there before."
One guy who won't be there is Grzelcyk, who didn't travel with
the team to flyover country. Cassidy said Grzelcyk is
"day-to-day," but it seems unlikely that Grzelcyk would be ready
to play until the series returns to Boston on Thursday night.
--By Bucky Dent, Field Level Media
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