Blues backup goalie Jake Allen will be starting in the crease tonight after a stellar performance in St. Louis’ Game 4 victory.
After relieving starter Brian Elliott in Game 3, Allen made his first start of the postseason on Saturday. In the Blues’ 6-3 Game 4 win, Allen made 31 saves, evening the Western Conference Finals series against the San Jose Sharks.
“I am comfortable with either guy, but I woke up this morning and talked to the coaches again and decided to go with Jake,” Hitchcock told ESPN.
Jake Allen leads the boys to the ice for pregame warm-ups. #stlblues #WeAllBleedBlue https://t.co/nGmLcdPS41
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 21, 2016
Elliott carried the Blues through two victorious rounds of the postseason: he defeating defending Stanley Cup champion the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round, shut down the Dallas Stars’ league-leading offense in the second round and most recently beat the Sharks 2-1 in the series opener. However, the Blues have been shut out in the past two consecutive games, the first two goaltending shutouts in Sharks postseason history. Elliott allowed three goals on just 14 shots in Game 3 before being replaced midway through the third period by Allen.
In the 2015-16 regular season, Allen started 43 games, going 26-15-3 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. Elliott, meanwhile, held a 23-8-6 record with a 2.07 GAA and a .930 save percentage while starting all 17 of the Blues postseason games so far.
The Blues welcome the Sharks to the Scottrade Center tonight, Monday, May 23 at 8:00 PM ET. The game will be aired on NBC Sports Network.