Preview: Game 6 vs. Boston

GAME 6 VS. BOSTON

For the first time in franchise history, the St. Louis Blues have an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup.
All they need to make that a reality is one more win.
But as Blues Head Coach Craig Berube cautioned, it will likely be the hardest win to get.
"I think every round it's been difficult to get that fourth win," Berube said. "It's always hard to close a team out, and we're going to get their best game. (It will be) a lot like (Game 5). I thought they came out hard, like I said, they really poured it on in the first period. We hung in there, and we're going to have to be really prepared to go. In Game 6, we will be. And again, we're at home, so we've got to get after that team in the first period and set the tone."
This postseason, the Blues are 3-0 in potential series-clinching games - all of which have happened at Enterprise Center. With a win Sunday, the Blues would claim their first-ever championship and become just the fourth team in NHL history to clinch every series at home.
They might get a boost from the possible return of Robert Thomas, too.
Thomas has been out of the lineup with an undisclosed injury since Game 1 but skated with his teammates in practice Saturday
. Berube called Thomas a game-time decision.
Ivan Barbashev will not be in the lineup Sunday after receiving a one-game suspension for a hit in Game 5 on Bruins forward Marcus Johansson.
Regardless of who will or who won't be in the lineup, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester said the Blues are keeping their focus.
"I think this whole Playoffs, the focus is you've got to stay even keel, not get too high, too low," Bouwmeester said. "Everyone knows what's at stake, obviously, but when you're this late in the season, it doesn't really change. We know they're going to come with a big push, and we've got to have our best game."

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Alex Pietrangelo
On keeping emotions for Game 6 in check
"We know what Sunday is, but the group is calm and we've done a really good job of refocusing after games. I don't really get a feel from anybody that the emotions are too high right now."
Craig Berube
On keeping emotions in check
"The first home game here in the Finals was a tough one for us emotionally, maybe a little too much emotion at times in that game. Going into (Sunday), it's important you keep your emotions in check. Discipline is huge. It's hard, but you have to find a way to do it. Each series is different and we've gone through it (every) series at times. It's just a talking point after and learning. I think they learned from that Game 3 (loss at home). I expect us to be emotionally in check (Sunday)."
Alexander Steen
On whether he thinks about being one win away from a Stanley Cup
"I think right now we're approaching it as, we want to get ready for the next game and look at what we need to do to get better and try and stay inside our routines."

BLUE NOTES

Ryan O'Reilly is the fifth player in franchise history to record 20 or more points (six goals, 14 assists) in a single postseason. With one more point, O'Reilly will match the franchise record for most points in a single postseason (21- Brett Hull, Doug Gilmour, Bernie Federko)… Jordan Binnington's 38 saves in Game 5 was the third-most by a rookie goaltender in a Stanley Cup Final game. With one more win, Binnington would become the first rookie goaltender in NHL history to win 16 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs… Zach Sanford has an assist in all three games since returning to the lineup in Game 3… Jay Bouwmeester ranks third among active players who have yet to win a Stanley Cup (1,184 games)… By appearing in Game 6, Alexander Steen will rank third overall in playoff games played (86) with the Blues…When the Blues hold a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven series, they hold an all-time series record of 11-2.