The Blues outshot the Maple Leafs 14-5 in the second period, giving a performance as solid as the first period’s was uninspired. Constant pressure and a huge presence around the crease for the Blues were two things that Hitchcock must’ve yelled at them in the locker room to do, because they’re doing it. Frankly, the only reason the game isn’t tied – or the Blues aren’t in the lead – is because the bounces’ve been terrible or the shots have been wide.
Jason Anott snuck in front of Toronto goalie Ben Scrivens as the Blues were on the power play thanks to a slashing call on Dion Phaneuf. His snap past the glove of Scrivens cut the deficit to one. It appears that Hitchcock’s tweaks on the power play are continuing to work, or else Toronto’s penalty kill is just going through a very bad patch recently. Hopefully both, because if the Blues continue this pressure through the third, they’ll tie it up in no time.
The period ended with a bit of a scrum between Barret Jackman and Dion Phaneuf. It should make for an interesting opening bit of the third period, to say the least.