Ryan Miller was supposed to be the difference for St. Louis, but even he couldn't slow the decline of the Blues's season, which ended with a 5-1 loss in Game 6 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.
Chicago Blackhawks complete series comeback, eliminate Blues in Game 6
Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith led the way for Chicago.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago completed a four-game comeback, winning the series, 4-2, at home. St. Louis lost 10 of its last 12 games in the 2013-14 season.
Blackhawks-Blues
Chicago opened the scoring in the first period when Bryan Bickell redirected a Brent Seabrook shot past Miller just 4:14 into the game. It was Seabrook's first major impact in his return from a three-game suspension for boarding Blues captain David Backes in Game 2.
The lead didn't last for long. With four minutes left in the first period, Alex Steen curled a sweet pass from behind the Blues' net out front where T.J. Oshie buried it to tie the game at 1-1.
It was the Corey Crawford Show from that point on. The Blackhawks did their best to give away the game to St. Louis, but the Blues went 0-for-6 on the man advantage through the first two periods while outshooting Chicago, 28-11.
With the game tied 1-1 after two, the Blues were in danger of becoming the biggest coincidental footnote in NHL Playoff history.
As per @FriedgeHNIC ... check this out... #hockeynight pic.twitter.com/6iQvdXkuNg
— Steve Sloan (@SteveSloanHNIC) April 27, 2014 But Jonathan Toews immediately put an end to that narrative with a power play goal in the opening minutes of the final frame.
Patrick Sharp made it a two-goal lead just 1:17 later, Duncan Keith added another later in the period and the Blues were toast. Chicago advances to play either the Minnesota Wild or Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Colorado leads that series, 3-2, and will try to finish Minnesota off in Game 6 on Monday.
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