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Jordan Binnington Will Start Game 4 vs. Bruins After Stanley Cup Final Benching
June 3, 2019
The St. Louis Blues are sticking with Jordan Binnington in net despite him giving up five goals on 19 shots in their 7-2 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final.
"In his bounce-back games, it's just his calmness and his mannerisms more than anything," coach Craig Berube said, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN. "I think he goes back in there and he feels real confident about himself. Early on in games a lot of times you see his puck-handling ability and I know that he's dialed pretty well when I notice that kind of stuff."
The rookie, who had been stellar throughout the Blues' postseason run, turned in a career-worst performance in Game 3. The Bruins consistently found him out of position and racked up five goals, leading Berube to replace him with Jake Allen for the first time this season.
"I've got to do a better job giving the team a chance to win,” Binnington told reporters. "They're a good hockey team and we've got to get back to our game and stay focused.”
Binnington's teammates came to their goaltender's defense, saying they believe he'll bounce back in Game 4.
"He's just so even-keeled,” center Ryan O'Reilly said. "No matter what situation it is, winning or losing, you see him, he's focused and he's on to the next. And I think that's something we all admire about him. He leads the way in that. It's something we have to follow. There are a lot of things we have to do better in front of him.”
The Blues are 6-2 in games started by Binnington following a loss this postseason. They'll need that mark to move to 7-2 in Game 4 if they hope to have any real chance at hoisting a Stanley Cup. Losing both games at home would put St. Louis in a 3-1 deficit heading back to Boston.
Binnington, 25, is 13-9 overall with a 2.54 goals against average during the playoffs.