You've got to take advantage of it.
The Bruins were favored entering the Stanley Cup Final. But the best-of-7 series is tied 2-2 entering Game 5 at Boston on Thursday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS), and the statuses of defensemen Zdeno Chara and Matt Grzelcyk are uncertain because of injuries.
"I guess their mentality might be, 'Hey, we're slowly chipping away at their health,'" Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "So maybe that motivates them a little more to stay on their game. But only they can answer that."
The Blues won't answer that, of course. All they will say is that they will prepare and play the same way no matter who is in the lineup for the Bruins.
But the Blues have gotten better as the series have progressed in each round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In Games 5-7 of series, they are 6-1, outscoring their opponents 23-9. They hit and forecheck and take a toll over time.
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If Chara, Grzelcyk or both can't play -- or if one or both are limited -- St. Louis will have a chance to put even more pressure on the rest of the Boston defense.
"I mean, let's face it," Cassidy said. "They want to knock our [defensemen] around no matter what number or name is on the back of the sweater. That's been their M.O.
"They've been effective at it at times. When we've been the better team, we've been able to avoid that and use our breakouts, our foot speed, to our advantage. So I think that's what's made it an interesting series."
In the Western Conference First Round, the Blues and Winnipeg Jets were tied 2-2. The Blues won Games 5 and 6.
In the second round, the Blues and Dallas Stars were tied 2-2. The Blues lost Game 5, then won Games 6 and 7.
In the conference final, the Blues and San Jose Sharks were tied 2-2. That series had the same pattern this one has had. The Blues lost Game 1, won Game 2, lost Game 3 and won Game 4. The Sharks were beaten up, and the Blues won Games 5 and 6.
"I think we finally realize we have to get to our game, and when we get to our game, we're a really good hockey team," Blues forward Pat Maroon said. "It takes us some time to adapt, I guess, and figure out how they play and how we need to play."
Everyone knows how the Blues need to play. They can't turn over the puck and give up rush chances. They have to play a simple game, get the puck in deep, and establish the forecheck.
"Especially teams like San Jose and Boston, they have a lot of skilled players and offense," Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko said. "They're waiting for us to turn the puck over. So it's really important to get it deep. Maybe it's not nice sometimes, but it seems like it's working."