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Blues' Jordan Binnington proves he's the king of the bounce-back game
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- Blues' Jordan Binnington proves he's the king of the bounce-back game
After the worst performance of his young NHL career, Jordan Binnington proved his resiliency yet again in a steady performance during the St. Louis Blues' biggest playoff game in franchise history. Following an uncharacteristic showing in Game 3, where he allowed five goals on 19 shots and was chased from the net for the first time in his NHL career, Binnington returned to the crease with no show of a hangover.
Binnington has now posted a 7-2 record in the playoffs following a loss, with a 1.86 goals against average and a .933 save percentage. He's just one bounce-back game away from tying the NHL record for playoff wins following a loss, a stat the Blues hope he won't need to put to the test in what's left as a best-of-three series.
The 25-year-old phenom has been an enigma with his ability to stay calm and confident throughout his record-breaking run since taking over the Blues' starting position on January 7th. A friendly reminder, the Blues were dead last in the NHL and he propelled them on their meteoric rise to the Stanley Cup Final.
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If anyone has earned permission to be a little overconfident or cocky, it would be 'Winnington', but he's stayed humble and steady to his core. It's a testament to the incredible mental strength it takes to be an NHL goaltender, especially in your rookie season. He's one win away from tying the record for the most ever wins by a rookie goaltender in a single postseason, two wins away from solidifying first place on that list - oh and hoisting the Stanley Cup in the same night! It could be one of the greatest stories in NHL history. But let's not get ahead of ourselves yet, the Bruins have lots to say about letting Binnington walk away with all the glory.
This being said, Game 4 was still not Binnington's best showing and he was exposed on lack of rebound control in both of Boston's goals. The team in front of him simply played a much more complete 60 minutes, especially in the defensive end and on the penalty kill.
Game 4 also featured a theatrical Binnington, something the stoic goaltender rarely partakes in. It was our first "Marchand" moment of the series, and Binnington caught the wrath of Twitter after he was caught over-dramatizing the incident. In a series where special teams have been essential to the outcome of the game, you can't blame him for trying. He just really needs to brush up on his acting skills in the postseason to be more a bit more effective, but in the mean time, he can take solace in being the bounce-back King.
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