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ST LOUIS
MINNESOTA |
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Final
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| Western Conference Quarterfinals - Best of 7 - Game 6 - STL Leads 3-2 | |
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| 11 | ST LOUIS | +120 | Ov 5,+105 | +120 | Ov 5,-110 | | 12 | MINNESOTA | -140 | Un 5,-125 | -140 | Un 5,-110 |
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| All Games | 53-34-0 | +7.5 | 53-34 | +7.5 | 38-31 | 3.0 | 30.6 | 2.5 | 27.0 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 25-18-0 | +5.8 | 25-18 | +5.8 | 18-17 | 3.0 | 31.6 | 2.6 | 29.1 | | Last 5 Games | 2-3-0 | -1.5 | 2-3 | -1.5 | 2-1 | 2.6 | 25.6 | 2.6 | 23.0 | | Playoff Games | 2-3-0 | -1.5 | 2-3 | -1.5 | 2-1 | 2.6 | 25.6 | 2.6 | 23.0 | | vs. Division | 19-15-0 | -0.5 | 19-15 | -0.5 | 13-14 | 2.7 | 29.0 | 2.6 | 27.8 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 87 | 261 | 62 | 99 | 86 | 14 | 20 | 2663 | 9.8% | 260 | 58 | 22.3% | 442 | | Team Stats (Road Games) | 43 | 128 | 29 | 53 | 38 | 8 | 11 | 1360 | 9.4% | 124 | 31 | 25.0% | 212 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 10.2% | 9 | 2 | 22.2% | 22 | | Team Stats (Playoffs) | 5 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 10.2% | 9 | 2 | 22.2% | 22 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 34 | 91 | 19 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 986 | 9.2% | 101 | 16 | 15.8% | 147 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 214 | 56 | 80 | 71 | 7 | 12 | 2348 | 9.1% | 268 | 46 | 17.2% | 360 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | | 110 | 31 | 43 | 31 | 5 | 5 | 1250 | 8.8% | 138 | 24 | 17.4% | 184 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 115 | 11.3% | 11 | 4 | 36.4% | 20 | | Stats Against (Playoffs) | | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 115 | 11.3% | 11 | 4 | 36.4% | 20 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 90 | 26 | 35 | 28 | 1 | 5 | 944 | 9.5% | 111 | 21 | 18.9% | 150 |
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| JAKE ALLEN (All Games) | 42 | 37 | 1021 | 932 | 91.3% | 2 | 24-13 | +8.4 | 24-13-0 | +10 | 15-13 | | JAKE ALLEN (Road Games) | 21 | 19 | 546 | 501 | 91.8% | 1 | 12-7 | +5.2 | 12-7-0 | +5 | 5-8 | | JAKE ALLEN (vs. Division) | 18 | 16 | 466 | 428 | 91.8% | 1 | 9-7 | +0.5 | 9-7-0 | +1 | 5-7 | | JAKE ALLEN (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 85 | 77 | 90.6% | 1 | 2-2 | -0.1 | 2-2-0 | 0 | 1-1 | | JAKE ALLEN (Playoff Games) | 5 | 5 | 112 | 102 | 91.1% | 1 | 2-3 | -1.5 | 2-3-0 | -1 | 2-1 | | MARTIN BRODEUR (All Games) | 7 | 5 | 169 | 152 | 89.9% | 1 | 2-3 | -1 | 2-3-0 | -1 | 4-1 | | MARTIN BRODEUR (Road Games) | 5 | 3 | 119 | 104 | 87.4% | 0 | 0-3 | -3 | 0-3-0 | -3 | 3-0 | | MARTIN BRODEUR (vs. Division) | 3 | 2 | 50 | 46 | 92.0% | 1 | 1-1 | 0 | 1-1-0 | 0 | 1-1 | | MARTIN BRODEUR (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 3 | 96 | 86 | 89.6% | 1 | 1-2 | -1 | 1-2-0 | -1 | 2-1 | | MARTIN BRODEUR (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | BRIAN ELLIOTT (All Games) | 46 | 45 | 1150 | 1054 | 91.7% | 5 | 27-18 | +0 | 27-18-0 | 0 | 19-17 | | BRIAN ELLIOTT (Road Games) | 22 | 21 | 583 | 538 | 92.3% | 3 | 13-8 | +3.7 | 13-8-0 | +4 | 10-9 | | BRIAN ELLIOTT (vs. Division) | 16 | 16 | 424 | 381 | 89.9% | 0 | 9-7 | -1 | 9-7-0 | 0 | 7-6 | | BRIAN ELLIOTT (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 94 | 81 | 86.2% | 0 | 2-2 | -2 | 2-2-0 | -2 | 3-0 | | BRIAN ELLIOTT (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
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| All Games | 49-38-0 | +2.5 | 49-38 | +2.5 | 32-39 | 2.8 | 30.3 | 2.5 | 27.5 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 23-20-0 | -7.8 | 23-20 | -7.8 | 18-17 | 3.0 | 31.3 | 2.6 | 25.1 | | Last 5 Games | 3-2-0 | +0.9 | 3-2 | +0.9 | 2-1 | 2.6 | 23.0 | 2.6 | 25.6 | | Playoff Games | 3-2-0 | +0.9 | 3-2 | +0.9 | 2-1 | 2.6 | 23.0 | 2.6 | 25.6 | | vs. Division | 20-14-0 | +5.1 | 20-14 | +5.1 | 14-14 | 2.9 | 29.9 | 2.5 | 28.6 |
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| Team Stats (All Games) | 87 | 244 | 67 | 77 | 92 | 8 | 16 | 2637 | 9.3% | 256 | 43 | 16.8% | 401 | | Team Stats (Home Games) | 43 | 131 | 41 | 44 | 43 | 3 | 7 | 1347 | 9.7% | 142 | 28 | 19.7% | 225 | | Team Stats (Last 5 Games) | 5 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 115 | 11.3% | 11 | 4 | 36.4% | 20 | | Team Stats (Playoffs) | 5 | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 115 | 11.3% | 11 | 4 | 36.4% | 20 | | Team Stats (vs. Division) | 34 | 97 | 22 | 35 | 37 | 3 | 6 | 1015 | 9.6% | 100 | 17 | 17.0% | 159 | | Stats Against (All Games) | | 214 | 57 | 79 | 70 | 8 | 10 | 2393 | 8.9% | 243 | 34 | 14.0% | 366 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | | 110 | 39 | 32 | 33 | 6 | 5 | 1078 | 10.2% | 125 | 15 | 12.0% | 185 | | Stats Against (Last 5 Games) | | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 10.2% | 9 | 2 | 22.2% | 22 | | Stats Against (Playoffs) | | 13 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 10.2% | 9 | 2 | 22.2% | 22 | | Stats Against (vs. Division) | | 85 | 20 | 35 | 26 | 4 | 4 | 973 | 8.7% | 102 | 14 | 13.7% | 137 |
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| NIKLAS BACKSTROM (All Games) | 19 | 14 | 452 | 401 | 88.7% | 1 | 5-9 | -4.5 | 5-9-0 | -4 | 7-5 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Home Games) | 10 | 6 | 209 | 187 | 89.5% | 0 | 2-4 | -2.8 | 2-4-0 | -2 | 3-2 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (vs. Division) | 8 | 6 | 211 | 186 | 88.2% | 0 | 1-5 | -4.3 | 1-5-0 | -4 | 3-2 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 116 | 100 | 86.2% | 0 | 0-4 | -4 | 0-4-0 | -4 | 2-2 | | NIKLAS BACKSTROM (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOHN CURRY (All Games) | 2 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 80.0% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Home Games) | 1 | 1 | 23 | 19 | 82.6% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (vs. Division) | 1 | 1 | 23 | 19 | 82.6% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Last 4 Games) | 2 | 1 | 25 | 20 | 80.0% | 0 | 0-1 | -1.5 | 0-1-0 | -2 | 1-0 | | JOHN CURRY (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (All Games) | 63 | 61 | 1743 | 1616 | 92.7% | 4 | 39-22 | +14.6 | 39-22-0 | +13 | 23-25 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Home Games) | 31 | 30 | 810 | 744 | 91.9% | 3 | 17-13 | -2.4 | 17-13-0 | -2 | 10-13 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (vs. Division) | 30 | 29 | 851 | 794 | 93.3% | 3 | 19-10 | +10.5 | 19-10-0 | +9 | 10-13 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 4 | 97 | 87 | 89.7% | 1 | 2-2 | -0.2 | 2-2-0 | 0 | 1-1 | | DEVAN DUBNYK (Playoff Games) | 5 | 5 | 118 | 106 | 89.8% | 1 | 3-2 | +0.9 | 3-2-0 | +1 | 2-1 | | JOSH HARDING (All Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING (Home Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING (vs. Division) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | JOSH HARDING (Playoff Games) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | | DARCY KUEMPER (All Games) | 32 | 28 | 727 | 659 | 90.6% | 2 | 14-14 | -2.4 | 14-14-0 | -1 | 11-14 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Home Games) | 16 | 14 | 295 | 262 | 88.8% | 2 | 8-6 | -0.8 | 8-6-0 | 0 | 7-6 | | DARCY KUEMPER (vs. Division) | 12 | 9 | 259 | 241 | 93.1% | 1 | 7-2 | +5.5 | 7-2-0 | +6 | 4-4 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Last 4 Games) | 4 | 1 | 66 | 63 | 95.5% | 0 | 1-0 | +1.6 | 1-0-0 | +2 | 1-0 | | DARCY KUEMPER (Playoff Games) | 1 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 100.0% | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0-0 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: ST LOUIS 3.19, MINNESOTA 3.14 |
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| 3/30/2015 | VANCOUVER | 1-4 | L | 0, -150 | L | 5 ov | P | | 4/2/2015 | CALGARY | 4-1 | W | 0, -145 | W | 5.5 un | U | | 4/3/2015 | at DALLAS | 7-5 | W | 0, -110 | W | 5.5 un | O | | 4/5/2015 | at CHICAGO | 2-1 | W | 0, +135 | W | 5 ov | U | | 4/7/2015 | WINNIPEG | 0-1 | L | 0, -140 | L | 5 ov | U | | 4/9/2015 | CHICAGO | 2-1 | W | 0, -125 | W | 5 ov | U | | 4/11/2015 | MINNESOTA | 4-2 | W | 0, -160 | W | 5 ov | O | | 4/16/2015 | MINNESOTA | 2-4 | L | 0, -135 | L | 5 un | O | | 4/18/2015 | MINNESOTA | 4-1 | W | 0, -130 | W | 5 un | P | | 4/20/2015 | at MINNESOTA | 0-3 | L | 0, +115 | L | 5 ev | U | | 4/22/2015 | at MINNESOTA | 6-1 | W | 0, +125 | W | 5 un | O | | 4/24/2015 | MINNESOTA | 1-4 | L | 0, -140 | L | 5 un | P | | 4/26/2015 | at MINNESOTA | |
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| 4/2/2015 | NY RANGERS | 2-3 | L | 0, -135 | L | 5 ev | P | | 4/4/2015 | DETROIT | 2-3 | L | 0, -155 | L | 5 ov | P | | 4/6/2015 | WINNIPEG | 0-2 | L | 0, -150 | L | 5 ov | U | | 4/7/2015 | at CHICAGO | 2-1 | W | 0, +130 | W | 5 ev | U | | 4/9/2015 | at NASHVILLE | 4-2 | W | 0, +155 | W | 5 ev | O | | 4/11/2015 | at ST LOUIS | 2-4 | L | 0, +140 | L | 5 ov | O | | 4/16/2015 | at ST LOUIS | 4-2 | W | 0, +115 | W | 5 un | O | | 4/18/2015 | at ST LOUIS | 1-4 | L | 0, +110 | L | 5 un | P | | 4/20/2015 | ST LOUIS | 3-0 | W | 0, -135 | W | 5 ev | U | | 4/22/2015 | ST LOUIS | 1-6 | L | 0, -145 | L | 5 un | O | | 4/24/2015 | at ST LOUIS | 4-1 | W | 0, +120 | W | 5 un | P | | 4/26/2015 | ST LOUIS | |
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| |  | ST LOUIS: LAST SEASON: 52-23-7, 111 points. Tied for third overall in Western Conference, lost in first round to Chicago.
COACH: Ken Hitchcock, third full season with Blues. 124-55-20. 657-405-178 overall in 18 seasons, seventh on career win list.
ADDED: C Paul Stastny, C Jori Lehtera, D Carl Gunnarsson, C Colin Fraser, F Robby Fabbri.
LOST: G Ryan Miller, D Roman Polak, F Vladimir Sobotka, F Brenden Morrow.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Jaden Schwartz. Signing Stastny in free agency creates open ice for everyone else. Schwartz led team at plus-28 last season and scored 25 goals.
OUTLOOK: They've been among the NHL's best regular-season teams the last few seasons, and one of the stingiest, too. Last season they allowed the third-fewest goals, plus defensemen Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk are highly productive joining the rush. They appear to have enough firepower to contend for an ever-elusive first Stanley Cup, although as usual there's plenty of competition at the top of the Western Conference. | | MINNESOTA: LAST SEASON: 43-27-12, 98 points. Lost to Chicago 4-2 in Western Conference semifinals after beating Colorado 4-3 in first round.
COACH: Mike Yeo, fourth season, 104-82-26.
ADDED: LW Thomas Vanek, LW Brett Sutter, D Justin Falk, D Stu Bickel.
LOST: RW Dany Heatley, LW Matt Moulson, D Clayton Stoner, C Cody McCormick, LW Mike Rupp.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Vanek signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with the Wild after spending his first nine NHL seasons in the Eastern Conference, primarily with Buffalo. Vanek will be counted on for a scoring boost for a team that tied for 24th in the NHL in goals per game, but with Zach Parise and former Sabres teammate Jason Pominville among the top six forwards the onus is not all on him.
OUTLOOK: After advancing past the first round for only the second time in franchise history with a dramatic upset of the Central Division champion Avalanche, the Wild are on track for more with the addition of Vanek and the development of young forwards Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Erik Haula and Nino Niederreiter. The goalie situation is the biggest concern, with Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper returning as the top two after an injury-laden season at the position that forced the Wild to give four different players 19 starts or more in the net. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW (ST LOUIS-MINNESOTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Blues-Wild Preview* ====================
St Louis At Minnesota, Game Six, 3:00 p.m. EDT
(AP) - NHL teams play all season for home-ice advantage - only to give it away.
It hasn't meant much at all in the first-round Western Conference series between the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild. The teams have traded victories over the first five games, three of them coming on the road and sending overflow crowds home grumbling.
Wild-card Minnesota has a 3-2 series edge against St. Louis, the Central Division champions, and can advance to the second round for the second straight season with a victory on Sunday.
The Blues dominated the last time they were in the Twin Cities, chasing goalie Devan Dubnyk in a 6-1 rout. Two days later, Dubnyk was the star with 36 saves in a 4-1 victory.
It's the only series with no games decided by a single goal.
"Well, I don't think I can explain the lopsided wins," Dubnyk said. "I don't think either team would have expected that. I think both sides aren't surprised by the going back and forth.
"We knew it was going to be a long, tough series and I'm sure they did, too, and that's when it becomes important to put games behind you, win or lose."
Forward Steve Ott believes the way to eliminate gaps in the Blues' game is to rigidly stick to the relentless, physical style that earned them 109 points and the second seed in the West.
"We have to get rid of the lulls. We have to continue to be very robotic at times or almost methodical," Ott said. "When we're methodical, we're very hard to  ."
Game 5 was the first time in the series the team that scored first did not win.
Vladimir Tarasenko put St. Louis up early with his playoffs-leading sixth goal and the Blues were ahead 8-0 in shots before momentum abruptly shifted. Marco Scandella scored on a shot from the top of the left circle that goalie Jake Allen couldn't handle, the puck popping out of his glove and into the net.
The Blues outshot the Wild 12-3 in the first period but the score was tied and Minnesota gained momentum over time.
Dubnyk instilled more confidence when he twice stoned Alexander Steen in the second period, kicking his pad into the air to bat away one close chance.
"The fireworks were going off in the building," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "Obviously, when you're on the bench your heart kind of sinks. All of a sudden, you're going down the other way on the rush. It's a big lift for your group."
The Wild were resilient, shaking off the 6-1 rout at home in Game 4, and now it's the Blues' turn.
"We've still got two games to play," St. Louis defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "We're not going to hang our heads, we know we've got to play better. We'll take a hard look at ourselves and get ready for Game 6."
Since 1986, the Blues have lost 11 of 12 best-of-seven series when tied at two games apiece, with the lone victory coming in the first round in 2001 against the San Jose Sharks. Game 7, if necessary, would be Wednesday in St. Louis.
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| | Last Updated: 4/25/2024 1:43:21 PM EST. |
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