Brouwer has seen his share of Game 7s, Brodeur paid a visit to Elliott, it’s not all bad for the Stars, and more in four things we learned in the NHL.
Maybe Brouwer is “Mr. Game 7”
The handle “Mr. Game 7” belongs to Justin Williams, aka “Corsi Jesus.”
Signing Williams, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, was one of two key off-season acquisitions the Washington Capitals made last summer. The other player the Capitals brought in to make a run at the Stanley Cup was T.J. Oshie, whom they acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Troy Brouwer.
After Brouwer’s performance in the Blues’ 6-1 win over the Stars in Game 7 Wednesday night, coupled with his weird history associated with Game 7s, Williams may have some competition for that nickname.
Troy Brouwer (@StLouisBlues) will extend his NHL record by skating in a #Game7 for 8th consecutive playoff series. pic.twitter.com/kQLzEGHmGE
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 11, 2016
Brouwer paced the Blues’ attack with a goal and two assists on a line with Paul Stastny and Robby Fabbri. While Brouwer has quite a way to go to match Williams’ clutch performance in Game 7s, he’s certainly no stranger to pushing a series as far as it can go.
Williams and Oshie watched their 2015-16 campaign came to a close Tuesday night in a Game 6 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Brouwer will have at least one more shot at extending his run in Game 7s, although we’re betting the Blues would rather see him wrap up a series early for once.
Martin Brodeur is the Elliott whisperer
Brian Elliott‘s been arguably the Blues’ best player this post-season, though the 31-year-old was not at his best in Game 6, surrendering three goals on seven shots in under 17 minutes of work in a 3-2 loss.
Elliott was back to his characteristically sharp self between the pipes Wednesday evening, stopping 31 of 32 shots. Perhaps a visit from Blues assistant general manager and future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur helped Elliott get back on track.
After GM 6, Martin Broduer had a visit with Elliott. Brodeur pulled himself out of Game 6 once after losing 4-1. He got a shutout in GM 7
— Frank Cusumano (@Frank_Cusumano) May 12, 2016
We can’t confirm if Brodeur told Elliott to “come up with an unreal pad save you have no business making,” but we confirm the two-time all-star did just that.
Never in doubt, right?
Dallas has a goaltending problem
Normally, when you have $20.8 million committed to your goaltenders for the next two seasons, you hope one of them is capable of standing on his head in a Game 7.
Kari Lehtonen, the $5.9-million option, was not that guy on Wednesday night. Lehtonen gave way to Antti Niemi, at a cool $4.5 million, to start the second period after giving up three goals (not to mention an absolute stinker that was called back) on eight shots in a shaky first frame.
#GottaSeeIt – This goal from Patrik Berglund spelled the end of Kari Lehtonen’s night in Game 7. #DALvsSTLhttps://t.co/MK7zXWl37D
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 12, 2016
Niemi turned away eight of 10 shots in relief of Lehtonen. Somebody’s getting bought out this summer.
It’s not all bad for the Stars
By failing to advance to the Western Conference Final, the Dallas Stars will send a second-round pick to the Calgary Flames to complete the Kris Russell trade, rather than a first-round selection.
Not much of a consolation, but it’s something. Calgary’s looking pretty good heading into the draft, though.
So with both conditional picks closed, #Flames have 10 picks entering 2016 NHL Draft.https://t.co/scvrur0H48 pic.twitter.com/BnyP2nvsNu
— General Fanager (@generalfanager) May 12, 2016