BLUES DETHRONE DEFENDING CHAMPS IN GAME 7

Troy Brouwer scored the game-winning goal at 8:31 of the third period to help the Blues defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks in the first Game 7 of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs and win their first playoff series since the 2012 Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. SJS (4-1 W).

RINNE, PREDATORS FORCE GAME 7
Pekka Rinne denied 26 of 27 shots he faced and James Neal (1-1—2) scored the game-winning goal with 2:15 remaining in the second period to help the Predators earn their first home win of the series and force Game 7 against the Ducks.

GAME 7 TRENDS
Home teams improved to 95-67 (.586) all-time in Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the team that scores first improved to 120-42 (.741).

Wednesday’s showdown in Anaheim will mark the 40th Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2009 – the most frequently-occurring series length in that span:

Series Length (since 2009)
7 games: 40
6 games: 35
5 games: 24
4 games: 14

MILESTONES & MUSINGS

• Predators captain Shea Weber scored his 12th career playoff goal to move within one of tying David Legwand (13) for the most in franchise history.
• The only teams remaining in the postseason to have won the Stanley Cup in the past decade are the Ducks (2007) and Penguins (2009)
• The Blues own an all-time series record of 8-1 when leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven series
• Blues forward Jaden Schwartz (0-1—1) extended his point streak to six games (3-4—7)
• The NHL announced start times for Wednesday’s two games: Game 7 of the First Round series between the Ducks-Predators (10:00 p.m. ET / 9:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. PT in Anaheim)
• Game 1 of the Second Round series between the Lightning-Islanders (7:00 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay)
• Flyers forward Brayden Schenn will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for charging/illegal check to the head of Capitals forward T.J. Oshie.

MONDAY’S RESULTS
Home Team in Caps
NASHVILLE 3, Anaheim 1 – series tied 3-3
ST. LOUIS 3, Chicago 2 – STL wins 4-3