The St. Louis Blues looked like a team playing for their playoff lives on Wednesday night, and the Wild – didn’t. The Blues crushed the Wild 6-1 at ‘The X.’
By winning, the Blues snapped a streak of nine straight losses in playoff road games. For the Wild, the six goals were the most they’ve ever allowed in a home playoff game. More importantly, the Blues victory evened the best-of-seven series at wins apiece.
Things did not start well for Minnesota. The Blues zapped the energy right out of the Xcel Energy Center with three first period goals in the first 10 minutes of hockey.
It started with a powerful slap shot from Ryan Reaves that got by Devan Dubnyk.
This embed is invalid
It continued with another big goal from St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko.
This embed is invalid
Worst period of playoff hockey at the X since Gaborik was here. Outshot 10-4, down 3-0, step behind all the way
— Jim Souhan (@SouhanStrib) April 23, 2015
Minnesota bounced back right away in the second period, as Jared Spurgeon lit the lamp with a power play goal to cut the Blues lead to two.
This embed is invalid
Unfortunately for Minnesota, it didn’t last long as Paul Statsny beat Dubnyk seconds later to extend the St. Louis lead to 4-1. The Blues quickly piled two more on Dubnyk before Wild coach Mike Yeo lifted him in favor of Darcy Kuemper.
Tarasenko finished with two goals, while Kevin Shattenkirk added three assists in the Blues victory.
The series is now tied at two with Game 5 is back in St. Louis on Friday.
Scoring Summary
1st period: 5:34 STL – Ryan Reaves (1) Slap shot – Assist: Alex Pietrangelo (1), Chris Porter (1) 1-0 STL
1st period: 6:59 STL – Vladimir Tarasenko (4) Tip-in – Assist: Kevin Shattenkirk (5), David Backes (1) 2-0 STL
1st period: 10:06 STL – Backes (1) Wrist shot – Assist: Shattenkirk (6), T.J. Oshie (1) 3-0 STL
2nd period: 1:41 MIN – Jared Spurgeon (1) Snap shot – Assist: Nino Niederreiter (1), Mikael Granlund (3) 3-1 STL
2nd period: 3:39 STL – Paul Statsny (1) Wrist shot – Patrik Berglund (2), Jaden Schwartz (2) 4-1 STL
2nd period: 15:47 STL – Tarasenko (5) Tip-in – Assist: Jori Lehtera (2), Shattenkirk (7) 5-1 STL
2nd period: 16:50 STL – Berglund (2) Backhand shot – Assist: None 6-1 STL
