Jeff Roberson/Associated Press Jason Spezza and Esa Lindell each scored goals as the Dallas Stars beat the St. Louis Blues 2-1 in Game 5 of their NHL Western Conference Semifinal playoff series on Friday. Dallas goaltender Ben Bishop made 38 saves. Jaden Schwartz scored the lone goal for the Blues, who fell behind 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Lindell's game-winning goal at 6:13 of the second period turned out to be the difference: Lindell couldn't have picked a much better time for his first career playoff goal, and that score helped cap a sensational opening 40 minutes for the Stars. The Point provided statistics explaining why, noting Dallas' edge in slot shots and rush-scoring chances: Quality chances were a prevalent Stars theme, and Spezza took advantage of his after Tyler Seguin found him in front of the net for the game-opening goal at 2:42 of the first period: Spezza has been the story of this series: He's scored three goals against the Blues after having not found the net since Feb. 24, which covered a 20-game stretch including playoffs. Video Play Button Videos you might like On the other end, Bishop did his part to give the Stars a 3-2 series edge. He's been lights-out in the playoffs and has done particularly well on the road historically, per Sportsnet Stats: The netminder also came through with the save of the series on Oskar Sundqvist with 4:15 left in the game: If not for an accidental giveaway that led to Schwartz's goal at 8:26 of the third, Bishop may have earned his first shutout of the playoffs: Still, the Vezina Trophy finalist has been phenomenal in the playoffs thanks to a 2.13 GAA. Dallas will host St. Louis on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET for Game 6. NBC will televise the matchup. A Stars win will send them to the Western Conference Final, where they would face the San Jose Sharks or Colorado Avalanche. A Dallas loss would bring the series back to St. Louis for Game 7 on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.<doc-sep>Midway through the second, it looked to many like the Blues had cut the deficit in half. Bishop had lost his stick and the Blues had extended zone time. David Perron took a shot that looked to many as though it had gone in and quickly come out. The horn sounded, the goal light didn't go on, the refs didn't signal goal and no one was quite sure what was happening. After play was finally stopped, a reviews clearly showed that the puck had hit the post and it was no goal. The Blues had several other chances but couldn't score, despite plenty of zone time, and finished the period outshooting Dallas 24-22. The Blues were outhitting Dallas 24-11. Jason Spezza scored 2:42 into the first period. After Jordan Binnington made a save on Mattias Janmark, the Stars worked the puck around, with Tyler Seguin having the puck low and feeding a late arriving (and wide open) Spezza for a goal, with Binnington's view possibly being obscured by Pat Maroon passing in front of him. The Blues had plenty of scoring chances, and outshot the Stars 13-11 in the period. Jay Bouwmeester had a shot that Ben Bishop blocked. The puck got past him but the Blues couldn't get to the rebound. Richard Thomas had a chance in front but couldn't get enough on a bouncing puck.<doc-sep>Dallas Stars (43-32-7, fourth in the Central Division during the regular season) vs. St. Louis Blues (45-28-9, third in the Central Division during the regular season) St. Louis; Friday, 9:30 p.m. EDT WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND ROUND: Series tied 2-2 BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues host the Dallas Stars in game five of the Western Conference second round with the series tied 2-2. The teams meet Friday for the ninth time this season. The Stars won the last meeting 4-2. The Blues are 12-9-5 against division opponents. St. Louis has scored 50 power-play goals, converting on 21.1 percent of chances. The Stars are 14-10-2 against division opponents. Dallas has converted on 21 percent of power-play opportunities, scoring 45 power-play goals. TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan O’Reilly leads the Blues with 49 assists and has collected 77 points this season. Jaden Schwartz has six goals and two assists over the last 10 games for St. Louis. Alexander Radulov leads the Stars with a plus-22 in 70 games played this season. Roope Hintz has five goals and three assists over the last 10 games for Dallas. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Stars: Averaging 3.1 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.8 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game with a .931 save percentage. Blues: Averaging 2.7 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game with a .903 save percentage. Blues Injuries: Sammy Blais: out (undisclosed). Stars Injuries: Jamie Oleksiak: day to day (lower body).<doc-sep>
The Dallas Stars, led by center Tyler Sequin, meet the St. Louis Blues, led by center Ryan O’Reilly, in Game 5 of their best of seven NHL Western Conference Playoffs series on Friday, May 3, 2019 (5/3/19) at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The series is tied, 2-2. Here’s what you need to know: Who: Stars vs. Blues What: Game 5, Western Conference Playoffs When: Friday, May 3, 2019 Where: Enterprise Center, St. Louis Time: 9:30 p.m. EDT TV: NBCSN Channel finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity,Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, Hulu, fuboTV, Sling Line: Blues -145 Livestream: fuboTV (free trial) BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues host the Dallas Stars in game five of the Western Conference second round with the series tied 2-2. The teams meet Friday for the ninth time this season. The Stars won the last meeting 4-2. The Blues are 12-9-5 against division opponents. St. Louis has scored 50 power-play goals, converting on 21.1 percent of chances. The Stars are 14-10-2 against division opponents. Dallas has converted on 21 percent of power-play opportunities, scoring 45 power-play goals. TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan O'Reilly leads the Blues with 49 assists and has collected 77 points this season. Jaden Schwartz has six goals and two assists over the last 10 games for St. Louis. Alexander Radulov leads the Stars with a plus-22 in 70 games played this season. Roope Hintz has five goals and three assists over the last 10 games for Dallas. DURING THE PLAYOFFS: Stars: Averaging 3.1 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.8 penalties and 7.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game with a .931 save percentage. Blues: Averaging 2.7 goals, 4.8 assists, 3.2 penalties and 6.6 penalty minutes while giving up 2.9 goals per game with a .903 save percentage. Blues Injuries: Sammy Blais: out (undisclosed). Stars Injuries: Jamie Oleksiak: day to day (lower body). (The AP contributed to this report.)