SAN JOSE, Calif. — It seems like just about every player has had a "moment" for the Blues this postseason. The guys making up the team's fourth line are having quite a few moments during the playoffs and bringing the heat to opposing defenses and goalies.
Alex Steen, Ivan Barbashev and Oscar Sundqvist seem to be covering every square inch of ice when they're out there together this postseason.
Barbashev is continuing his impressive and digressive regular season play, Sundqvist is fourth on the team in playoff goals and Steen is looking a bit more like the guy he used to be.
The fourth line has been so impressive, Coach Craig Berube has thrown them out to start the last two games against the Sharks, and it's paid off.
Barbashev scored 35 seconds in to kick off Game 4, and Sundqvist opened the scoring with a blast in Game 5.
Thirty-five-year-old Alex Steen is the grizzled veteran on the line and is proud of how his line mates—and the team as a whole—have played during the playoff run.
"Right now we're just staying in the moment," Steen said. "We're getting ready for each game the right way and I think our focus in game has been good as well."
Above all else, the fourth line applies pressure.
They're going to come at you, make you play defense and get the puck on net. Between the three of them, they accounted for eight shots on goal in Game 5.
If the Blues can get this kind of production from the guys who are supposed to see the least amount of ice time, it will give opposing teams another wrinkle to contend with.