SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Perhaps Brian Elliott was just fatigued. Mentally, physically wiped out. One NHL goalies coach looked at the St. Louis Blues' goaltending situation and didn’t overthink it.

After three games and two losses in the Western Conference finals, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock changed gears in goal, giving Jake Allen the start instead of Elliott in Games 4 and 5. We saw a coach in Hitchcock trying to spark his team. The trained eye of a goalies coach instead saw a goalie in Elliott who just needed a breather.