Stanley Cup Final Buzz: Bruins, Blues primed for Game 1

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily in-depth look at the 2019 NHL playoffs. The Stanley Cup Final is set with the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues preparing to play Game 1 at TD Garden on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS). Sunday is Stanley Cup Final Media Day, with full coverage throughout on NHL.com.

The latest

-- Bruins center David Krejci did not practice Saturday,
missing his third straight day
because of an illness, though he is expected to play in Game 1, reports Matt Kalman.
-- Brayden Schenn has done all the little things to help the Blues reach the Cup Final. However, he still wants to
produce more offense
, writes Louie Korac.
-- The Bruins are "itching" to get
the Stanley Cup Final underway
, reports Amalie Benjamin.
--
FOX announcer Joe Buck
is a St. Louis native and longtime season ticket holder with the Blues. Tom Gulitti finds out how much Buck is enjoying the Blues' run to the Cup Final.
--
The Bruins' sweep of the Blues
in the 1970 Cup Final is remembered for the series-winning overtime goal from Bobby Orr in Game 4, but Dave Stubbs points out there was much more to those four games.

-- Stubbs also has
the interesting backstory
of the statue commemorating Orr's iconic goal which stands outside TD Garden.
-- Bruins captain Zdeno Chara recently turned 42, but he remains a vital cog in Boston's quest for the Stanley Cup. Amalie Benjamin sat down for an
exclusive one-on-one conversation with the veteran defenseman
.
-- Scott Cullen goes
Behind the Numbers
to find out who has the advantage at even strength and on special teams heading into this series.
-- The Bruins have more players with Stanley Cup Final experience on their roster and that
does not bother the Blues
at all, reports Louie Korac.
-- Boston vs. St. Louis?
Been there, done that
. Nicholas J. Cotsonika writes this is not the first time a team from Boston and a team from St. Louis have gone head to head for a championship.
-- Bruins president and former star forward Cam Neely believes
scoring depth is vital
for a successful playoff run, writes Matt Kalman.
-- Who is likely to skate away with the
Conn Smythe Trophy
, awarded to the MVP of the playoffs? NHL.com writers make their picks
-- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is using images of Bruins championship moments of the the past to
motivate his team
, writes Mike Zeisberger
-- Just how were
the Bruins
and
Blues rosters
built? David Satriano and Adam Kimelman take a look at their construction.
-- The Bruins
tuned up for the Cup Final
with an instrasquad scrimmage on Thursday, writes Amalie Benjamin.
-- There are plenty of
storylines in the Cup Final
, writes Dan Rosen.
-- Who has the edge in the Cup Final? Tom Gulitti
previews the series
between the Blues and Bruins.
-- Who will skate away with the Cup? NHL.com writers and editors
make their picks.
-- Think you know your Stanley Cup Final history? Take our
25-question quiz
and find out for sure.