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St. Louis Blues: Five Reasons They Win, Five Reasons Minnesota Wins

By Todd Panula

Mar 7, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; St Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) makes a save in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The St Louis Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; St Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) makes a save in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The St Louis Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 8, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Wild center Martin Hanzal (19) and center Charlie Coyle (3) check Arizona Coyotes left wing Max Domi (16) during the first period at Gila River Arena. The Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Wild center Martin Hanzal (19) and center Charlie Coyle (3) check Arizona Coyotes left wing Max Domi (16) during the first period at Gila River Arena. The Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

It Is Not The Top Stars

For whatever reason, the St. Louis Blues have a way of limiting the big guns of a team. So, it is typically not the Jonathan Toews or Patrick Kane’s, or in this instance the Eric Staal’s of the world that beat them.

As well as they play against the top guys, they seem to forget there is an entire full team to deal with. Thus, the mid-six and even sometimes fourth line guys are the ones that do St. Louis in.

Charlie Coyle had two goals against St. Louis this season. He had 18 for the season.

Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu also got the Blues for multiple goals this year. Those are talented forwards who often see top line time, but they still are not at the top of the list of players you would focus on as an outsider.

The same was true of the Blues during the regular season this year and playoffs past. Rarely is it the big guns of any team that just stick it to St. Louis.

It’s the guys that make you scratch your head. It’s the guys that are talented enough, but just not expected to have a hot series and end up doing so.

With that in mind, it would not be surprising someone like Erik Haula to have a big series. Not because he’s hot, though 15 goals is not bad, but because the Blues have a history of allowing that kind of player to do them harm.

The Wild have themselves well spread too, which makes this point even more valid. Eternal enigma Chris Stewart even had 13 goals this year.

The focus will still need to be on the top guys, but the Blues cannot afford to forget about forwards 4-12.

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