PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TOP TOTALS TICKET >> Went 5-1 Tuesday! 7-0 G.O.W. Winner on Sharks!
(NHL) Minnesota vs. St. Louis,
Total: 5.00 | 105.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 5.00 | 105.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The Minnesota Wild were second in the league in scoring during the regular season (3.21 goals per game) but find themselves in an 0-3 'hole' in their opening round series with the St. Louis Blues, after scoring just three goals in three games! Minnesota has outshot St. Louis 117-79 in the first three games but has gone 1-for-10 on the power play and its top four goal scorers in the regular season have yet to tally in the series. Yes, the Blues have scored just seven goals (one an empty-netter) but Jake Allen has turned away 114 of the 117 shots he's faced!
Minnesota: "We're not playing bad," defenseman Ryan Suter told reporters. "We just can't score. If we can find a way to score a goal, it's a different game." Head coach Bruce Boudreau reportedly made changes to his forward lines at practice Tuesday, moving Eric Staal between Coyle and leading scorer Mikael Granlund while captain Mikko Koivu centered Nino Niederreiter and Zach Parise. However, the Wild are now tasked with winning four straight games against a St. Louis team which has won six consecutive games overall and is 18-2-2 in its last 22 contests.
St. Louis: Jake Allen came into the series 3-5 all-time in the postseason but his brilliant postseason play is just a continuation of his play down the stretch of the regular season. He has now allowed fewer than three goals in 15 of his last 19 starts, after stopping 40 of 41 shots in Game 3's 3-1 victory. Jaden Schwartz has a goal in each of the last two games and a point in all three contests. Patrik Berglund has registered three assists along with a plus-3 rating and Alex Steen also has produced three points after netting an empty-net tally to clinch Game 3. Leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko (two assists) has unleashed 12 shots in the series.
The pick: No reason to over-think this one. Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk had an outstanding regular season (2.25 GAA & .923 SP) and has surrendered just six goals in the first three games. However, his counterpart Allen has just been better (see above!). Goals will be at a premium again, making the Under a 10* play.
Minnesota: "We're not playing bad," defenseman Ryan Suter told reporters. "We just can't score. If we can find a way to score a goal, it's a different game." Head coach Bruce Boudreau reportedly made changes to his forward lines at practice Tuesday, moving Eric Staal between Coyle and leading scorer Mikael Granlund while captain Mikko Koivu centered Nino Niederreiter and Zach Parise. However, the Wild are now tasked with winning four straight games against a St. Louis team which has won six consecutive games overall and is 18-2-2 in its last 22 contests.
St. Louis: Jake Allen came into the series 3-5 all-time in the postseason but his brilliant postseason play is just a continuation of his play down the stretch of the regular season. He has now allowed fewer than three goals in 15 of his last 19 starts, after stopping 40 of 41 shots in Game 3's 3-1 victory. Jaden Schwartz has a goal in each of the last two games and a point in all three contests. Patrik Berglund has registered three assists along with a plus-3 rating and Alex Steen also has produced three points after netting an empty-net tally to clinch Game 3. Leading scorer Vladimir Tarasenko (two assists) has unleashed 12 shots in the series.
The pick: No reason to over-think this one. Minnesota's Devan Dubnyk had an outstanding regular season (2.25 GAA & .923 SP) and has surrendered just six goals in the first three games. However, his counterpart Allen has just been better (see above!). Goals will be at a premium again, making the Under a 10* play.
