BOSTON - St. Louis Blues rookie goalie Jordan Binnington rendered Zdeno Chara’s inspirational decision to play with a battered face inconsequential when he made 37 saves to beat the Boston Bruins 2-1 and put the Blues one win short of the first Stanley Cup championship in their 52-year history.
The Blues, leading 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, can claim the championship by winning Game 6 Sunday in St. Louis.
The Bruins were expected to get a lift when doctors cleared their captain Chara to play in Game 5, even after there were reports that his jaw was broken in Game 4 by a Brayden Schenn shot.