Binnington might not know Dallas coach Jim Montgomery’s name, but the Blues always have their eyes on No. 14 in green. Benn’s Game 4 assist, a perfectly placed puck that split two Blues before landing on the center of Hintz’s stick, captured why he is a maddening antagonist who the Blues (begrudgingly) respect. One second, he can be sitting on top of Alex Pietrangelo, dispensing an embarrassing facewash. The next, he can be making SportsCenter’s Top 10 – if ESPN realized the NHL playoffs were in progress.

Benn, 29, made his NHL debut during the 2009-10 season. He has been a Star his entire career, and a thorn in the Blues' side just as long. Over the course of his decade in the league, Benn leads all NHL players in regular-season goals (19) scored against the Blues. And only nine players during that span have totaled more penalties against the Blues than Benn’s 14 in 39 games. But here’s the thing. The Blues have done an impressive job of shutting up and shutting down Benn in their postseason meetings. Their fight to keep it that way is one of the many aspects that will define this airtight series.