They have beaten the Blues twice this season already. Two lineup changes, forward Zack Bolduc and defenseman Justin Faulk both are back in (Mathieu Joseph and Scott Perunovich sit). Jordan Binnington is in net. The Wild counters with Filip Gustavsson…both goalies with shut outside in their last start. Blues get a break with Krill Kaprisov out for the Wild.
Wild go up early…really early…
The first shot of the game by the Wild beats Binnington 1:23 into the period. It looks like he was screened. For the fifth time this season, the Blues have allowed a goal on their first shot of the game…And again on the second shot of the game after a Wild player ran over Binnington 2:12 into the game … a terrible non-call by the refs on goalie interference…2-0 way too early.
Only 5 minutes in…shots are even at three…but the Blues are on the short end of the scoreboard 2 to 0.
Blues turned the game around a bit and at the 10-minute mark they led in shots 9 to 5…no goals for the good guys yet.
With 6:34 left in the period, the Blues make it 2-1…Pavel Buchnevich puts it in the back of the net for his 11th goal of the year, burying it over Gustavsson's glove. Dylan Holloway and Justin Faulk with the assists. Brayden Schenn with a great charge up the middle to clear space and do the dirty work.
Binnington with a breakaway save with just over 6 minutes left after another non-call on an obvious holding the stick penalty…refs swallowing their whistle…
Ryan Suter getting the boo birds from the fans…apparently, they are holding a grudge since the Wild are still paying Suter from the buyout. Suter played 9 seasons with the Wild…656 games.
The ice was tilted the Blues way in the back half of period 1…and finished on top in shots 14 to 9. Blues won 71% of the faceoffs.
Blues respond in Period 2…
Blues go to the power play 1:17 into the second period. The Wild are 29th in the league on the kill…and quickly off the initial face-off…Jordan Kyrou, who was tripped to create the man advantage, fires one from the face-off circle with Jake Neighbours screening in front. Kyrou’s 18th goal to lead the team. Holloway and Faulk assisting and we are tied at 2! 1 for 1 on the power play!
Jake Neighbours gives the Blues a 3 to 2 lead at 2:51 with a wrist shot off a feed from Oskar Sundqvist. Neighbours 11th with a second assist to Zach Bolduc.
And 4 unanswered when Robert Thomas comes from behind the net takes a pass from Suter (too bad he didn’t score…) and tucks it in over the goalie's shoulder. 4-2…4:33 into the period. Thomas with his 9th. Brandon Saad with the second assist. 18th shot on goal. And that brings a Wild goalie change…the 40-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury enters the game as the Blues have scored 4 on 18 shots.
The Wild beats Binnington's short side just before the 10-minute mark…their 16th shot…and we have a barnburner…4 to 3 Blues halfway through.
The period ends with the Blues up by 1…4-3. Shots are tied at 20 each. Blues only with 3 shots on Fleury.
Period 3…
Blues are 14-1-1 when leading after 2 periods.
Spoke too soon...The Wild tie it up at 1:12…a wrister beats Binnington's stick side…and it's 4-4…
Philip Broberg breaks his stick as he is making a pass and the Wild get a 3 on 1 and make it count…5 to 4…3 unanswered goals for the Wild…16 minutes left…eerie shades of the Columbus game where 8 goals were scored in the 3rd period…
10 minutes left…Blues down one…leading in shots 25 to 22.
5 minutes to go…Blues have been applying pressure 30 shots to 24…needing the tying goal…Binnington to the bench with 3:20 left… But with 35 seconds left, the Wild scored into the empty net despite intense pressure by the Blues…with two minutes spent in the Wild end. Shots end up 34 to 26…Fleury stops all 16 shots he faces…three goals by the Wild in the 3rd, doom the Blues…back to .500…
Second game in a row, Blues lose 6-4.
Notes: Defensemen with eight goals in the last six games. Cam Fowler with 4 goals since joining the Blues and it’s the most goals by an NHL defenseman in that timeframe…13 of the next 17 games at home, including the next four…