Blues coach Craig Berube plays chess while the rest of the NHL plays checkers. After his team was outshot 54-25 in the Game 1 overtime loss, Chief changed up the lines. It was a risky, strategic move because two of the three had not opened a game together all season until Thursday.

But Berube knew it would work.

And it did.

David Perron, who was playing in his 100th career postseason game, notched two goals, pushing his team-leading postseason total to seven. Perron sent one of his patented shots into the net with 33.8 seconds left in the period.

St. Louis has also notched a power-play goal in every game this offseason.

Meanwhile, Jordan Binnington stopped 30 of 31 shots in the 4-1 victory.

The Blues’ defense was sharper in this contest

Binnington stopped 30 of 31 shots in Thursday’s 4-1 win over the Avalanche in Game 2.

The Blues’ defense was much sharper in this contest, and Binnington took care of most of the shots that got through. In Game 1, while Binnington did most of the work, the defense had glaring issues throughout. The only goal he allowed was a Gabriel Landeskog power-play tally on a rebound. This was Binnington’s fourth win in five playoff games this postseason.