NHL Playoff Schedule 2016: Updated Conference Finals Bracket and Predictions

The Pittsburgh Penguins have earned a Game 7 opportunity at home after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2 on the road Tuesday, and now the St. Louis Blues are going to try to emulate that feat.

Like the Penguins, the Blues lost a pivotal fifth game at home. Now they must go to San Jose Wednesday night and try to stay alive by winning Game 6 at the SAP Center.

While the Blues dropped a 6-3 decision at the Scottrade Center in Game 5, they did not play a poor game. They held a 3-2 lead late in the second period before the Sharks tied it. San Jose took a 4-3 lead early in the third period on an artful deflection of a Brent Burns shot by Joe Pavelski.

The Blues could not manage to get the tying goal by Martin Jones, but they have scored nine goals in the last two games. They played a dominant game versus the Sharks when they tied the series in Game 4 on the road, and now they must do the same to stay alive in the Western Conference Final.

Head coach Ken Hitchcock has decided to go back to Brian Elliott as his starting goaltender after turning to Jake Allen in Games 4 and 5. While Allen seemed to give the team a spark in his first start, he allowed four goals on 25 shots Monday night.

Elliott has a 9-8 record in the postseason with a 2.34 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.

"It's his turn," Hitchcock said, per Louie Korac of NHL.com. "This has been Brian's playoffs and we'd like him to finish the job."

Matchup	Series Standings	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Prediction
St. Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks	SJ, 3-2	May 25	9 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS	San Jose
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins	3-3	May 26	8 p.m.	NBCSN, CBC, TVAS	Pittsburgh

Hitchcock said that Elliott has never played a full slate of postseason games, and he may have needed the mental break by sitting out Games 4 and 5.

They need a good start if the Blues want to force a seventh game. The team that has scored the first goal has won each of the first five games.

The Penguins played 40 excellent minutes in building a 3-0 lead on the Lightning in Game 6, but Tampa Bay responded with a pair of back-to-back goals from Brian Boyle to close within 3-2 in the third period.

"

That's just a fantastic goal by Mr. Crosby. #StanleyCuphttps://t.co/jByCOfMFd0

— #StanleyCup Playoffs (@NHL) May 25, 2016"

Phil Kessel, Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby had given the Penguins their early advantage, and when the Lightning pressed for the tying goal, Bryan Rust took advantage of the soft Tampa Bay defense and scored on a breakaway to restore the two-goal advantage. Nick Bonino added an empty-net goal for the final score of the night.

Predictions

Hitchcock is making the right move to go back to Elliott, but the St. Louis defense is going to have to play better if the Blues are going to force a Game 7.

Pavelski is just too skilled around the net, while Burns is a nonstop shooting machine from the point. With those two going at full speed and the Sharks getting big contributions from Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Tomas Hertl and Joel Ward, San Jose has an almost unstoppable offense.

Meanwhile, the Blues are still waiting for Vladimir Tarasenko to score his first goal in the series. 

San Jose has too many weapons, and the Sharks will end the series with a victory in Game 6.

The Penguins made the right move when they turned to Matt Murray in goal in Game 6, and he will get the job done in Game 7 Thursday night.

This should be a classic seventh game, and don't be shocked if Crosby or Kessel scores the decisive series-winner in overtime. Pittsburgh wins and advances to the Stanley Cup Final.