2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Series Review: (C1) St. Louis Blues vs. (W1) Minnesota Wild

This series saw one of the top teams in the West all year (St. Louis) go against a team that turned their season around after a coaching meltdown and a trade for a goalie (Minnesota). For St. Louis, they were coming in with a talented team and another change in goal, as they went from Brian Elliott to Ryan Miller to Jake Allen for their playoff needs in a three year span (and Elliott is still there). Minnesota was a bit similar. They have talent, but their goaltending has been in question for a while, either due to injury/health issues (Niklas Backstrom, Josh Harding) or performance (Backstrom again, Darcy Kuemper). Enter Devan Dubnyk, who was acquired via trade in January and led the Wild back into the playoffs. Heading into the series it was Allen vs. Dubnyk, as the success of both their teams would hinge on their ability to backstop them. Allen seemed to get worse as the series went on, and was replaced by Elliot in the last game after giving up a weak goal. Dubnyk was ok for the most part. He did get shelled in one game and letting in a few saveable ones, but he stood strong when needed, helping Minnesota eliminate St. Louis in six games.

Games

Minnesota Wild 4 - St. Louis Blues 2

It took under three minutes for Minnesota to start the scoring in the series. Jason Zucker's initial shot was stopped, but he collected the rebound, went behind the net, and scored on the wraparound to put the Wild up 1-0. It would remain that way until the second, when on the powerplay, Matthew Dumba's point shot beat Allen, extending the Wild's lead in the process. Minnesota kept the pressure up in the second, but failed to add to their lead. St. Louis finally beat Devan Dubnyk in the third, as Jaden Schwartz tipped home Kevin Shattenkirk's point shot. The Blues pulled their goalie late in the period in an attempt to tie the game. That would not be the case, as Mikael Granlund scored on the open net. It looked to be all but done, as David Backes took a cross checking penalty on the ensuing faceoff to give the Wild a powerplay for the rest of the game. That wasn't the case (yet), as Alexander Steen scored while shorthanded to once again pull the Blues to within a goal. St. Louis pulled Allen again, but it yield the same result, as Jason Pominville scored on the empty net to (finally) put the game away. Minnesota won Game 1 to take the series lead.

Minnesota Wild 1 - St. Louis Blues 4

If your name was Vladimir Tarasenko, you were allowed to score in the first. The Russian sniper opened the scoring over thirteen minutes in, as he redirected Steen's shot past Dubnyk to give the Blues the lead. About five minutes later he stuck again. On the powerplay, Tarasenko's tough angle shot hit Dubnyk's arm and went into the net. The second period was scoreless, but it wasn't without it's chances, highlighted by Schwartz making a goal line save on a shot from Zach Parise. Minnesota struck early in the third, as Marco Scandella's point shot both broke his stick and beat Allen. It was almost a tied game halfway though the period. Charlie Coyle's shot would ring off the crossbar and hit Allen in the back, but Backes was there to make the goal line clearance. Patrik Berglund scored late in the period to put the Blues back up by two. Tarasenko capped off his hat trick with an empty net goal, as St. Louis won the game to tie the series.

St. Louis Blues 0 - Minnesota Wild 3

Unlike the first two game, the first period of this game remained scoreless, as both teams did not have many chances. The Wild had chances early in the second, but it wasn't until late in the period when they found the back of the net. Pominville tapped home a pass from Parise. The two would connect for another goal minutes later, this time it was Parise whose shot beat Allen. Nino Niederreiter added an empty net goal late in the third. Dubnyk had relatively light work, stopping all 17 shots the Blues took at him. The shutout win put the Minnesota back in the series lead.

St. Louis Blues 6 - Minnesota Wild 1

The Blues came out firing in this one, looking to tie the series again. They struck just over five minutes in, as Ryan Reeves blasted one past Dubnyk. Less than two minutes later, Tarasenko tipped Shattenkirk's shot past Dubnyk to extend the Blues lead. Halfway though the period, Backes jammed home a rebound to put St. Louis up 3-0. The goals kept coming in the second period. The Wild started the period with a powerplay, and they capitalized on it. Jared Spurgeon sniped it past Allen to pull Minnesota to within two. It only took St. Louis two minutes to respond, as Paul Stastny beat Dubnyk. Later in the period, it was Tarasenko's time to shine. He received a pass from Jori Lehtera while beating two Wild defenders, skated in alone, and beat Dubnyk with a Forsbergian (or Nilsson-like) move. Berglund added a goal a minute later, which ended Dubnyk's night. Darcy Kuemper came on in relief, and shut the door the rest of the way. Unfortunately for the Wild, Allen was just as impressive. The Blues win once again ties the series.

Minnesota Wild 4 - St. Louis Blues 1

The Blues came out firing once again, but it took longer than last game for them to strike. A powerplay opportunity is what they needed, as Tarasenko received a backdoor pass from Steen before shooting it into an open net. Scandella tied the game three minutes later, as his blast bounced off Allen and into the net. It stayed tied until the later half of the second period. Just over five minutes left in the period, Chris Stewart found an open Niederreiter in the slot, who then beat Allen to give the Wild the lead. A powerplay goal by Mikko Koivu minutes later extended that lead. The Blues pushed hard in the third in an effort to tie the game. It was all for naught. Coyle scored late in the period to cap off the scoring. The 4-1 win gave Minnesota a 3-2 series lead, and push St. Louis closer to elimination.

St. Louis Blues 1 - Minnesota Wild 4

Minnesota controlled play early on in the game. It ended with Parise beating Allen on a tough angle shot to put the Wild in the lead. Play shifted to the Blues, then the Wild as the period came to a close. St. Louis controlled most of the second, but it was Minnesota who scored the first goal of the period. Fontaine beat Allen on a stoppable shot. That was it for Allen, as Brian Elliott replaced him. The Blues looked to have a goal, but it was called back for goalie interference. They did eventually score, as T.J. Oshie scored with seconds left in the period. The Wild would strike back early in the third, as a 3-on-2 ended with Parise putting home a rebound. Down 3-1, St. Louis tried to comeback and tie the game. It would not happen, as the Wild added an empty netter to cap the game. Minnesota won the game and the series, as they knocked out St. Louis in six games.

Three Thoughts on the Series

1. This was suppose to be the year St. Louis makes a deep run. Goodbye to that.
2. Hitchcock is probably gone from St. Louis. No surprise if he isn't unemployed for long though.
3. Seriously, what has to happen for St. Louis to break through. It's amazing that a team this talented gets knocked out in the first round once again.

Picture of the Series

Nice toe save by Dubnyk

Highlight of the Series

Tarasen-GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!