Around the NHL: O’Reilly Strikes Twice, Blues Even Series

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It's been a party atmosphere in St. Louis during the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the "Play Gloria" craze has caught on around the NHL. On Monday night, the Blues were able to "Play Gloria" after a Stanley Cup Final game.

Entering the third period of Game 4 in a 2-2 tie, Ryan O'Reilly's second goal of the game proved to be the game-winner as the St. Louis Blues evened the series at two games apiece with a 4-2 win over the Boston Bruins.

O'Reilly's first goal of the game came just 43 seconds into the game on a wraparound. The Blues continued to keep the pressure on throughout the early stages of the game, but the Bruins got the next goal. At 13:14, Charlie Coyle picked up his ninth goal of the playoffs, cutting in front to score off a feed from Zdeno Chara.

Just over two minutes later, the Blues got the lead back. Alex Pietrangelo had his shot stopped by the pad of Tuukka Rask, but the rebound went right out to Vladimir Tarasenko, who buried it for his 11th goal of the playoffs.

After 20 minutes, the Blues had the advantage in shots, 13-9.

The Blues continued to apply pressure in the second, including a stretch of about 90 seconds with control in the attacking zone that led to a power play. To this point, the Bruins were also without their captain. Chara deflected a Brayden Schenn shot off his face and left the game. He returned to the bench for the third period, but did not play.

On the ensuing power play for the Blues in the second, with a chance to really make their mark on the game, the Blues were beaten in the special teams game again.

Brad Marchand entered the zone on a shorthanded rush and drew two Blues to him. That allowed him to get the puck to Patrice Bergeron with Brandon Carlo coming in as the trailer. Bergeron fired low and Jordan Binnington made the save, but Carlo was there to pick up the rebound and beat a desperation save attempt by Binnington as the puck went off his glove and in to tie the game with 5:41 left in the second period.

In the third, the Blues outshot the Bruins, 13-4. It took until 10:38 of the period, but the Blues finally got the go-ahead marker. It was O'Reilly getting his second of the game and fifth of the playoffs, knocking a rebound from a Pietrangelo shot out of mid-air and in.

Over the final 9:22, the Bruins were held to just one shot and the Blues were able to put the game away with an empty-net goal by Schenn.

Binnington made 21 saves in the win. Rask made 34 saves in the loss.

The series now shifts back to Boston for Game 5 on Thursday night, where one team will move to within one win of claiming the Stanley Cup. Game time is at 8 p.m.