Jordan Binnington challenges Philipp Grubauer
(Screenshot/ NBCSN)

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington wanted all of that smoke.

Binnington tried to fight Colorado Avalanche netminder Philipp Grubauer after the final buzzer sounded on Game 1 Monday evening. The Avs took the opening game of the West Division playoff series by a 4-1 score. Dominant performances from superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog are primarily responsible for that.

Shenanigans broke out in the Avalanche zone as the final buzzer sounded, with Grubauer mixing it up with a Blues’ player in the crease.  Binnington decided to skate all the way down the ice and go after the Avs’ netminder. The Blues’ goalie never got to Grubauer, however, as the ref got in his path and stopped him from getting close.

Binnington was escorted off the ice by the ref, but not before he pointed and appeared to call out Grubauer.

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Game 1 between Colorado and St. Louis was everything a hockey fan could’ve hoped for. Gabriel Landeskog got the better of Brayden Schenn in a one-sided fight, MacKinnon picked up right where he left off in the regular season and Binnington gave his team a fighting chance with an unreal performance.

Binnington was incredible in Game 1, stopping 46 of 49 shots, so it’s unfortunate his performance is going to be overshadowed by his shenanigans at the end of the game. He was likely just trying to fire up his club after they were dominated in all facets by the Avalanche. The final shot total was 50-23 in favor of Colorado.

You might recall during the regular season, Binnington went after three members of the San Jose Sharks and challenged Devan Dubnyk after being pulled by head coach Craig Berube. Binnington’s “meltdown” ended up working, as the Blues came back in that game to win 7-6.

Whatever that was by Binnington at the end of Game 1, it didn’t appear to have any effect on the Avs’ captain Landeskog.

“He can do whatever he wants,” Landeskog told reporters after the game. “It’s not going to phase us. We’ll be ready Wednesday night.”

Playoff hockey is officially back, and the Avalanche-Blues series is already delivering in multiple areas.