Blues 1 win from Stanley Cup after Game 5 victory

(AP) – The St. Louis Blues are on the verge of becoming the oldest team to win its first Stanley Cup.

The Blues have a three-games-to-two lead in the final after Jordan Binnington handled 38 shots and Ryan O’Reilly had his second consecutive two-point game in a 2-1 victory over the Bruins in Boston.

Binnington helped St. Louis weather an early storm while the Bruins outshot them 17-8 in the first period. O’Reilly broke up the scoreless tie by beating Tuukka (TOO’-kah) Rask 55 seconds into the second period, one game after capping a two-goal performance by netting the game-winner in the Blues’ 4-2 victory over the Bruins in St. Louis.

O’Reilly also picked up an assist when David Perron (peh-RAHN’) took a shot that banked off Rask’s pad and into the net. Perron made it 2-0 with 9:24 to play, but the Bruins answered back with Jake DeBrusk’s goal less than three minutes later. Binnington blanked Boston the rest of the way to put the Blues in position to capture their first championship in their 51-season history.

Bruins captain Zdeno Chara (zuh-DAY’-noh CHAH’-rah) started on the blueline, 48 hours after taking a puck to the jaw that inflicted a serious facial injury. Chara was hurt in the second period of Game 4 and never returned to the ice.

Game 6 is Sunday in St. Louis.