ST. LOUIS B次元官网网址� Facing elimination in an oh-so-hostile environment, Brad Marchand and Tuukka Rask delivered for the Boston Bruins once again.

The Stanley Cup Final is heading to Game 7 because two of BostonB次元官网网址檚 biggest stars love the biggest moments.

Rask made 28 saves, Marchand had a goal and an assist, and the Bruins beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 on Sunday night to even the bruising, physical final at three games apiece.

David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist as Boston became the 17th team to go on the road and force a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup. The Bruins also were the last franchise to accomplish the feat, coming all the way back to win the championship against Vancouver in 2011.

Rask was a reserve goaltender on that team eight years ago, while Marchand was a key performer. They will go for another championship Wednesday night in Boston after losing to Chicago in the 2013 final.

Oh yes, we're in for a treat.

B次元官网网址� NHL (@NHL)

Ryan OB次元官网网址橰eilly scored in the third period for St. Louis, which is looking for the franchiseB次元官网网址檚 first Stanley Cup title. Rookie Jordan Binnington finished with 27 stops.

Backed by an electric Enterprise Center crowd that included actors Jon Hamm and Jenna Fischer and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, wearing a No. 49 Blues jersey in honour of suspended forward Ivan Barbashev, St. Louis looked a step off for most of the game. Prime scoring opportunities were derailed by misplaced passes or ever-so-slight timing issues.

Of course, the unflappable Rask can have that effect on a team. And whenever the Blues threatened, the 6-foot-3 Finnish star was there.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 our best player,B次元官网网址� Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy said. B次元官网网址淗e just steps up when it matters and we have all the faith in the world in him. B次元官网网址� HeB次元官网网址檚 our rock.B次元官网网址�

Rask was at his best while Boston killed off four power plays, dropping St. Louis to 1 for 18 with the man advantage for the series. He smothered a big Colton Parayko slap shot with Zdeno Chara in the box near the end of the first period, and made a fancy glove stop on an even-strength try for Brayden Schenn 7:42 in the second.

He got some help after Marchand was whistled for tripping Alex Pietrangelo midway through the second. With the Blues applying heavy pressure in search of the tying goal, Pietrangelo had a backhand go off the left post and RaskB次元官网网址檚 back before McAvoy knocked the puck out of the way out of midair.

While St. Louis came up empty on the power play, Boston used a 5-on-3 advantage to jump in front in the first. With Schenn and OB次元官网网址橰eilly in the box, Marchand beat Binnington with a sharp-angled shot from the right circle at 8:40.

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It was MarchandB次元官网网址檚 first goal since he got an empty-netter in BostonB次元官网网址檚 4-2 victory in Game 1. The Bruins improved to 25-1 when the pesky veteran scores in the post-season.

Marchand and company then put it away with a four-goal third period.

First, Jake DeBrusk won a board battle with Pietrangelo to set up Brandon CarloB次元官网网址檚 bouncing shot that went off BinningtonB次元官网网址檚 arm for the defencemanB次元官网网址檚 second career playoff goal. Then rookie Karson Kuhlman, who was in the lineup in place of former Blues captain David Backes, made it 3-0 with a well-placed wrist shot at 10:15.

After OB次元官网网址橰eilly supplied some hope for St. Louis when he was awarded a goal after a review by the officials, Marchand found Pastrnak in front and the winger put a slick move on Binnington to make it 4-1 on 14:06.

Chara, playing with a broken jaw, added an empty-netter with 2:19 left. The crowd chanted B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 Go Blues!B次元官网网址� in the final moments, hoping to give St. Louis a boost for their trip to Boston.

The Associated Press

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