(5-12-22) Wild-Blues game 6 Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST LOUIS -- It it ain't broke, why fix it, right?

That's the Blues' mindset going into Game 6 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Minnesota Wild at Enterprise Center (8:30 p.m.; BSMW, TNT, ESPN 101.1-FM) with the chance to clinch the series.

The Blues lead the best-of-7 series 3-2 after winning Games 4 and 5 playing with 11 forwards and seven defensemen, meaning Scott Perunovich will likely remain in the lineup quarterbacking the top power play unit with Torey Krug (lower body) out again for a third straight game, and Tyler Bozak and Alexei Toropchenko alternating with partners on the fourth line.

"It's nice to play different roles in different times," Bozak said. "I feel like I'm a player that can help in a lot of different ways in different scenarios. It's fun to be a part of that.

"I've pretty much played with everyone over the course of the year and last year and stuff like that. We have a lot of smart players on this team. It's easy to adjust with whoever you're with. We try and play as structured as we can and stick to our system. If everyone's on the same page is when we're the most successful."

It's been quite the success for the Blues, not only in this series but in the regular season, going 10-4-2 going 11/7 and 10-4-3 playing with less than 12 forwards overall.

"I don't know. We've got quite a few guys in the top nine that can definitely take some extra minutes and create a lot of opportunities when they get that extra time," Bozak said. "We've got a lot of skill up there, a lot of guys that can score as we've seen throughout the year. I think just giving our best guys a few extra minutes and a few extra opportunities definitely helps."

Perunovich has two assists in two games in the series, both on the power play and both on top at the blue line in place of Krug. 

"Some poise. You can tell obviously he’s run power play units before," Blues forward David Perron said of Perunovich, who returned after missing nearly four months with a left wrist injury. "It was only his second game in a long time. He did a good job back-to-back there. Limited minutes and all that stuff. He goes out, he’s pretty sharp, really crisp with the puck. 

"Obviously with Kruger going down, it’s important that we have a guy up top. I think the key for our unit is puck movement. The quicker we move the puck, we find lanes, we find shot opportunities, and if we’re too slow then we don’t find those."

- - -

The old saying is that the fourth win, and series-clincher is always the toughest one to achieve, and the Blues will have that extra motivation to get the job done here tonight and not go back to Minnesota for a Game 7.

"Before the last two wins, we realized that at times we were just kind of beating ourselves a little bit," Perron said. "Just not making that crucial mistake that will end up in the back of our net. Just coming out there tonight being composed, knowing that the last win of the series is really the hardest. They’re gonna come at us, give everything they got. So it’s an exciting challenge for us. But we know they’re not gonna go away easy."

Bozak added, "I think you just definitely don't want to look past it in any way. I think we've done a good job with taking it one game at a time this series, not getting too high or too low. Obviously we know good of a team we are playing against and how tough of a game it's going to be tonight. We're going to have to have our best."

Which is why coach Craig Berube wants the Blues to stay within themselves and not get overly hyped up.

"Well, I think it’s always the toughest game," Berube said. "Minny is going to be ready. They’re going to give us everything they’ve got in the game. It’ll be our toughest game in the series. That’s the toughest challenge. I think the other thing is just … controlling your emotions here early on in the game is going to be important with the crowd and at home. Don’t look too far ahead, just one shift and do what you’re supposed to do out there and keep your emotions in-check the best you can. Stay disciplined. We don’t need penalties."

In their 2019 Stanley Cup run, the Blues won two of their three Game 6 series clinchers, falling 5-1 to the Boston Bruins in the Final before winning there in Game 7 and closing out the San Jose Sharks, 5-1, in the conference final and the Winnipeg Jets, 3-2, in the first round.

"We’ve been in a number of them so a lot of the guys have been through it and they know what’s involved in it," Berube said. "You learn from past mistakes, too. But again, you’ve got to control what you can control. Go out there, play hard and do your job, and that’s it."

"To play in front of our home ice. Obviously, we know if we go back for Game 7 it’s going to be a really tough task playing in their home barn," Perron said. "We did a good job staying with the game the whole time for Game 5. But again, we were in a different position many times in our career and it can turn around really quickly. So we've got to make sure we take care of it tonight."

- - -

If the Blues get anything close tonight like the contribution they got from Vladimir Tarasenko, who took over the third period in Game 5 with a natural hat trick, they will be in good shape.
Tarasenko flipped that game on a dime with two early third-period goals to turn a 2-2 game into 4-2 before potting an empty-netter to seal the deal.

For Berube, it's all about Tarasenko being engaged, playing physical, being responsible at both ends of the ice that brings out his best.

"I think he's done a pretty good job of it all year to be honest with you," Berube said. "Right from training camp on, he came in very focused and determined, put all the stuff in the summer behind him and went and played hockey. And played really good hockey for us, very consistent hockey, most of the year.

"I think Vladi and I have formed a really good relationship. It's not always patting each other (on the back) and talking nice, either. Which is fine. You've got to go at it sometimes, and I'm OK with that. And so is he. ... He hears it or I hear it, and we go on. Let's go. Go play. That's what it's all about.

"(But) leadership. That's the big thing. Lead by example. He's done that. He has the ability to be a power forward. Right now, that's what I'm seeing."

When Tarasenko gets in one of his locked-in modes, players notice.

"It’s interesting. He finds a way at the right time to score those big goals," Perron said. "The first goal kind of came out of nowhere, the next thing you know the second shot’s kind of the vintage Vladi shot – top corner – and then he seals the game for us. We obviously need him to keep doing that.

"We have many guys in our locker room that can step up at the right time. And I think that’s why we’re a strong team."

"He's a guy that whenever he has the puck on his stick in the offensive zone, there's a chance he can score," Bozak said of Tarasenko. "I've been lucky enough to play with him for four years now and you kind of take it for granted how good of a shot he has and how good of a player he is after you see it every day. Just little things throughout the game, he's so strong and powerful and can take over a game at any moment. We're extremely lucky to have him."

- - -

Maybe in Minnesota he's a villain, and that's OK with Brayden Schenn, but inside the Blues locker room and in this city, everyone knows what he means.

Schenn has two assists in the series but has been a wrecking ball throughout with his physicality and penchant to create space for his linemates, and in this case, it's Perron and Ryan O'Reilly.

"He’s very physical. Makes a lot of plays, too, when he gets the puck," Perron said. "He can hang onto it. That’s something we talked about as a line, just being able to hang onto the puck more than maybe even we’ve done before. Just the way their structure is defensively, I think we can find some space for us there playing more kind of little one-on-one’s in there. When we don’t know what to do kind of hammer it back of the net and make sure that we don’t lose possession for free and make their big boys play more D-zone than they like.

"He gets up and down the ice really, and he’s super physical. He creates a lot of space for us that way. And I think at times the games at home we play a lot against their big boys over there. So kind of knowing what we have to do, play deeper in the zone, making sure they can’t get momentum playing on our O-zone too much. And we end up obviously taking a lot of D-zone draws – all that stuff. So also, there’s two centers out there. Like you said, I think 'Saader' was playing phenomenal with us as well. He’s playing good hockey. But at times that’s what happens with changes."

Berube has used Schenn in a variety of roles, and it's a plus having a guy that can play center and jump on the wing when needed.

"He's been very valuable for me," Berube said. "I know you look at the scoresheet again, there's no goals, but his physicality and his hard play, that wears teams down. He does a good job of it, he's a very physical player, he plays extremely hard. He does all the little things and the goals will come.

"We've got to continue to bang bodies, stay disciplined though, that's important. We've got to stay disciplined, we've got to be physical on the puck. It's not physicality running out of position, it's physicality on the puck."

"He does it all," Bozak said of Schenn. "He plays hard minutes against their best players. He puts his body on the line, finishes his checks, goes to the hard areas. It seems like he's always in the scrums and that's no easy task, especially against a big, strong, tough team like Minnesota is. He's obviously a guy you can rely on and sparks us pretty much every night and gets us going."

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Brayden Schenn-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Vladimir Tarasenko

Brandon Saad-Ivan Barbashev-Jordan Kyrou

Alexei Toropchenko-Tyler Bozak

Nick Leddy-Colton Parayko

Calle Rosen-Justin Faulk

Niko Mikkola-Robert Bortuzzo

Scott Perunovich

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Ville Husso will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Logan Brown and Nathan Walker. Torey Krug (lower body) and Marco Scandella (lower body) are out.

- - -

The Wild's projected lineup:

Kirill Kaprizov-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello

Kevin Fiala-Frederick Gaudreau-Matt Boldy

Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Marcus Foligno

Nicolas Deslauriers-Tyson Jost-Brandon Duhaime

Jacob Middleton-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba

Jon Merrill-Dmitry Kulikov

Cam Talbot will start in goal; Marc-Andre Fleury will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Nick Bjugstad, Connor Dewar, Alex Goligoski and Jordie Benn. The Wild report no injuries, but Deslauriers could be dinged up and come out of the lineup tonight, although Wild coach Dean Evason wouldn't confirm any changes.

Tarasenko outshines countryman Kaprizov with hat trick, helping Blues to 5-2 win over Wild in Game 5

Natural hat trick in third period of 2-2 game puts Blues ahead 

3-2 in series, with chance to close it out Thursday in St. Louis

By LOU KORAC
ST. PAUL, Minn.. -- Kirill Kaprizov has received most of the headlines in this Blues vs. Minnesota Wild series and rightfully so.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

In Game 5, it was a battle of Russian stars, and Vladimir Tarasenko

(right) got the better of Kirill Kaprizov with a hat trick.

And when Kaprizov was doing his best to try and stick a dagger into the Blues in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round on Tuesday and put St. Louis on the verge of elimination, another Russian superstar, lurking in the woods, or in this case, on the ice, was waiting in the wings.

Vladimir Tarasenko has been on this stage before and has performed on it, and has stood on top of it a plethora of times.

Add another one for the 2019 Stanley Cup champion when he scored a third-period natural hat trick in a game that was hanging in the balance, and a series hanging in the balance. The Blues rode Tarasenko's broad shoulders to a 5-2 win over the Wild at Xcel Energy Center to take a 3-2 series lead back to St. Louis for Game 6 on Thursday.

When Kaprizov potted two power-play goals in the first period to erase what was a strong start by the Blues and a 1-0 lead on a goal by new girl dad Ryan O'Reilly, Kaprizov had outscored Tarasenko 7-1 to that point. 

Kaprizov is the rising Russian star, but Tarasenko is always a threat who can strike at a moment's notice. All it takes is one chance and like a piranha, Tarasenko smelled blood in the water and changed this series on a dime.

And instead of gloating about gaining the upper hand on Kaprizov, at least on this night, Tarasenko only focused on what mattered most.

"No, it's not the time to think about any achievements," Tarasenko said after his seventh NHL hat trick and second in the postseason, with both against the Wild (April 18, 2015). "The biggest thing is we won the game and let's move onto the next one. At this point with experience in 2019, we learned that only wins matters and it's good we have a win and we need to get ready for the next one.

"Happy to win. Obviously happy to score, I'm not going to lie, but more happy to win."
Say what you will, but there has to be some inner competition there between star players, especially ones from the same country. There's that game within the game, even if the two have become friends off the ice.

"Obviously when you play against guys from Russia, you have some extra emotions, but at this time of the year, I think it's more St. Louis against Minnesota," Tarasenko said. "I know him last couple years. I know him more that we have same agent now (Paul Theofanous). We talk once in a while, but he don't talk since the start of the series. 

"He's a good guy, have some success in season, but he's our opponent, so no friendship over there. Just try to play. Don't think where he's from. Just play hard against everybody here."
And with that, the battle lines were drawn, and now Tarasenko has the upper hand thanks to a vintage performance.

"(Tarasenko’s) an elite player, great shot," said Blues forward Brandon Saad, whose clutch second-period goal at 15:28 tied the game 2-2. "A special player, you can’t say enough good things about him … obviously helped our team win tonight. We know how big of a part of our team he is. Yeah, like I said, a special player, great goals tonight and we’re looking to move on to the next game.

"... Obviously whoever contributes, it’s great. He had a great third period. We’re happy to move on from that."

It wasn't just Tarasenko that sat by and watched a fellow Russian grab the headlines, but it had to feel good for Pavel Buchnevich, one of five Russians (four with the Blues) on the ice in this competition.

It was Buchnevich, who had two assists in four games coming in, that won a puck behind the Wild net from Minnesota defenseman Jacob Middleton and slipped a feathery pass into the slot and Tarasenko was not going to be denied at 1:03 and gave the Blues a 3-2 lead.

"I thought they were pretty solid, like all game, stayed with it and came through in the third period for us," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "It’s tight-checking out there, you just got to keep working."

Tarasenko and Buchnevich have that mojo on the ice.

"He's a great player," Tarasenko said. "He did this many times before. We talk a lot about staying connected in the o-zone. He's a great, skill player and very unselfish all the time. Not surprised he made this play and that was a great play and big goal for us."

And they did, and this time, another Russian (Ivan Barbashev) got in on the act. His drop pass to Tarasenko at the top of the right circle gave Tarasenko enough for a shooter to pick his spot and snipe.

Marc-Andre Fleury didn't see, or know, what was coming when Tarasenko picked the top of the net and make it 4-2 1:28 after his first goal. It left the 19,197 in attendance in stunned silence.

"His shot can beat goalies from distance," Berube said of Tarasenko. "But the thing for me right now, watching him play is the work ethic without the puck. He’s reloading hard, checking, being physical. And eventually, he gets a couple opportunities and he buries them. That was really good by him tonight. Right from the get-go, I thought those guys worked hard and were on top of things and doing the right things."

Sure, there's pressure to perform from the big guns. Even after scoring twice in the first period, Kaprizov, who led the Wild in goals (47), assists (61) and points (108) in the regular season, must have felt like he could do more in a 2-2 game in a 2-2 series.

But when the Blues elevated their game in the third period and Tarasenko having a heavy hand in it, he stepped up to the chess board and said, "Check mate."

"I think biggest thing we have Saader's goal at the end of the second," Tarasenko again deflecting credit to a teammate. "It gives us a lot of emotions and a lot of confidence going into the third. Score two fast goals and just play our game until the end. It was a big game for us. Now we need to reset our minds and get ready for the next one."

One thing Tarasenko has over Kaprizov is experience. Experience of winning and experience of going through the highs and lows of the NHL playoffs. Having been a part of a number of ups and downs, especially in 2019, there is a mindset of staying with it no matter the circumstances.

"I think biggest thing in our mentality from that year was just one game," Tarasenko said. "It doesn't matter how you lose, in overtime or it's like 5-1. One loss and you need to reset your mind fast and get ready for the next game and give your best there. Just trust in the group, trust in the group and trust in the coaches, trust in the players sitting beside you, the team can have success.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Robert Thomas (18) celebrates with teammate Vladimir Tarasenko, who

scored three third-period goals in a 5-2 win over Minnesota in Game 5.

"Obviously it's nice to make plays and play with the puck and create some opportunities, but in playoffs, sometimes it's tight. Teams check pretty well. It's not frustrating, but it's hard to switch your mind to play more of a grind game. Sometimes that's what you need to do and if it helped our team win Game 4, I was ready to do this again today. Stay connected in the o-zone give us our first goal."

Tarasenko and the Blues just need to stay connected for one more win in this series, and it's on to Denver.

(5-10-22) Blues-Wild Game 5 Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Reinforcements are on their way back.

And just in time for the Blues in a pivotal Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild in the Western Conference first round today at 8:30 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN, ESPN 101.1-FM) with the series tied 2-2.

Defensemen Nick Leddy and Robert Bortuzzo will return to the lineup tonight at Xcel Energy Center, providing a boost to a lineup on the blue line that desperately needs it with veterans Torey Krug and Marco Scandella each sidelined with a lower-body injury.

Leddy has not played since sustaining an upper-body injury, believed to be concussion symptoms, in Game 1 when he was checked from behind by Matt Boldy, and Bortuzzo was injured in Game 2 when he took a puck off the side of his face and near the right eye from close range blocking a shot by Joel Eriksson Ek.

Leddy was paired with Colton Parayko and Bortuzzo was paired with Niko Mikkola.

"They got two morning skates and they felt pretty good so they're probably good to go," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "They've got good experience back there. They're veteran guys that have played a lot of playoff games and have been  around. It's important to have. Those guys have been good players for us. We missed them when they're out."

The Blues have used Calle Rosen, who will stay in the lineup tonight, and recalled Steven Santini under emergency conditions as stop gaps but will get two steady, solid veterans back.

"Yeah, it's huge," defenseman Justin Faulk said. "I think both have been big parts of our team to get us to where we are. They are two different types of players, but both equally needed in our group. Borts, obviously, just a great guy and the penalty kill, hold it down out there. Simple as it can get it -- and I mean that as a compliment in the most sincere way I could say it. And Leddy, he's just so calm, too. He's been in the same situations and what not. So it's, it's nice to have two more guys coming back healthy and helping us out."

Leddy will once again see a lot of Wild star Kirill Kaprizov, who has scored five goals in three games since Leddy departed the lineup. Leddy held Kaprizov to no points in the series opener.

"(Leddy's) an unreal skater," Faulk said. "I don't think he gets intimidated by someone that is also a very good skater. He can keep up with anyone in the league, that's for sure. I've known that, since I’ve seen him skate forever."

Players are more than glad to see the two back.

"That’s huge for us," center Robert Thomas said. "'Bobbo' is a guy that lays it all out on the line for us every night. He’s huge on the PK, he’s huge on the 5-on-5, close situations. He’s a heart-and-soul on our team and it will be great to have him back. Leeds is the same. He’s steady, he’s a guy that breaks the puck out extremely well and he does a lot on his own back there. So, those are two huge pieces to have back for us and we’re excited for them."

- - -

The Blues will stick to the same structure they used in a 5-2 win in Game 4, going with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Berube did so Sunday as protection for Scandella, who couldn't finish the game, and there's some justification to doing it again with Leddy and Bortuzzo returning, but also to get Scott Perunovich back in as the quarterback of one of the two power play units as well as get him on the ice in offensive zone situations.

Berube had Perunovich quarterbacking the top unit again Tuesday.

"Composure for sure," Berube said. "He has the ability to look things off and see people that are open and subtle little fakes and things like that that opens things up just a little bit. That's all you need though. He's very good at that. He's shifty on the blue line, moves the puck back there. He's got a decent shot too, he can use his shot, but I think it's just the ability to see the ice and move that puck.

"He's got really good ability. He just has that in him. I told you before he's played in a lot of big games, he doesn't get fazed by too much. He's got a lot of composure."

What Berube also would like to see is Perunovich shoot the puck, which he deferred on Sunday.

"He did. Yeah, he could have taken some shots, for sure," Berube said.

It means that Alexei Toropchenko and Tyler Bozak will have a rotating partner up front, something the forwards like.

"Yeah, I think we play a little more simple up front," Thomas said. "I think our D did a great job of closing out plays in the D-zone, moving it up to us, and we were kind of able to get some transition game going. So, I think it was just kind of a whole team effort - the D made it easier on us and we didn’t shoot ourselves in the foot.

"Especially in the games, the way they’ve kind of gone with a lot of special teams, it kind of disrupts the flow a little bit. So, a little bit of extra time kind of keeps everyone in the flow and keeps everyone moving along."

The Blues have done really well this season when going with 11 forwards and seven defensemen and don't mind the rotation, at least the players don't. The coaches have a few more challenges.

"I've done it quite a bit this year," Berube said. "Up on my end with the forwards, I get one of my top players out extra ice time with that line and they like it. I don't mind it. On the back end, it's a little more tougher with Mike (Van Ryn) on the D finding ice time at times for guys, but we'll see."

- - -

Jordan Binnington gets the start after backstopping 28 of 30 shots in Game 4.

One aspect that Berube likes from Binnington is his ability to help with transitioning pucks up the ice more efficiently and fluidly, especially with having to use different defensemen in the series.

"It helps it back there," Berube said. "He moves it to people. He has the ability to make a play with the puck maybe to a forward, obviously to a d-man. He reads the play well and he'll bypass the forecheck a lot of times, which helps your D out a lot. It helps the D that he gets to a lot of rims. Your D is not going back on a rim, that's a tough play for a D. It's good he gets out of the net really well."

It will also help in the early going when the Wild, at home, will have jump in its game from the outset.

"Well, the start of the game. We've got to make sure that we're ready to roll," Berube said. "They're going to come hard for sure. They're at home and they're going to be energized. They're going to want to put pressure on us right away. We've got to make sure that we're doing a good job breaking the pucks out of our zone and getting pucks out. Don't give them easy plays. We've got to check well and stay above people and just wait for our opportunities."

- - -

Faulk and Parayko will be relied on heavily again after each played over 30 minutes in Game 4.

Faulk led all skaters with 31:10 and Parayko topped out at 30:37, but having Leddy and Bortuzzo back could help alleviate those minutes.

"It's fine. I mean, realistically, it's not that much different," Faulk said. "I mean, it's tough, but I would say the next day is pretty similar.

"If I ever say that I don't, I probably won't be in this league much longer. I don't think any player should ever say there's too much (playing time), right? I think pretty sure if you ask every guy on that team if they like extra minutes, they'll all say yes. Realistically, it's a way to stay in the game -- and not saying that you aren't with less minutes -- but I think every player, as you play more minutes, you feel more engaged into the game, whether that's someone jumping from 10 to 12, 20 to 22, whatever it is, you can notice it. If you can't be engaged, you're probably not going to be out there."

- - -

A side note, the Blues assigned forward Mackenzie MacEachern, who has had an upper-body injury, to Springfield of the American Hockey League on a conditioning assignment. In doing so, they are allowed to keep Santini here.

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Brayden Schenn-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Pavel Buchnevich-Ivan Barbashev-Vladimir Tarasenko

Brandon Saad-Robert Thomas-Jordan Kyrou

Alexei Toropchenko-Tyler Bozak

Nick Leddy-Colton Parayko

Calle Rosen-Justin Faulk

Niko Mikkola-Robert Bortuzzo

Scott Perunovich

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Ville Husso will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Logan Brown, Nathan Walker, Dakota Joshua and Steven Santini. Torey Krug (lower body) and Marco Scandella (lower body) are out.

- - -

The Wild's projected lineup:

Kirill Kaprizov-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello

Kevin Fiala-Frederick Gaudreau-Matt Boldy

Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Marcus Foligno

Nicolas Deslauriers-Tyson Jost-Brandon Duhaime

Jacob Middleton-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba

Jon Merrill-Alex Goligoski

Marc-Andre Fleury will start in goal; Cam Talbot will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Nick Bjugstad, Connor Dewar, Dmitry Kulikov and Jordie Benn. The Wild report no injuries.

Shorthanded Blues use veteran-savvy players to even series with Wild

From Binnington to O'Reilly, Perron, Kyrou, Faulk and Parayko getting 

bulk time on defense, 5-2 win in Game 4 could bring reinforcements in Game 5

By LOU KORAC
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- It wasn't do-or-die for the Blues in Game 4 Sunday against the Minnesota Wild in their Western Conference first round playoff series, but it was close enough.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) wins a puck battle with Wild forward

Marcus Foligno on Sunday in Game 4. 

Going down 3-1 in the series needing to win three in a row, including two in St. Paul, would have definitely put the Blues in quite the bind. And with their injuries on the defensive front, the task would have been daunting to say the least.

But a 5-2 win in Game 4 changed the landscape and made this a best-of-3 series.

The Blues need to win another game in Minnesota, beginning with Game 5 on Tuesday at Xcel Energy Center would be preferable to them, but nevertheless, winning with a less than a full deck has to be viewed as inspiring.

"I liked our start to the game," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "I thought we had a real good first period. We only got the one goal, but just the mindset and I think we were doing a good job on our forecheck, getting shots to the net and getting to the net. Power play, like I said, didn't capitalize but it really created a lot of momentum for us."

Playing without four of their top six in defense, Minnesota was in prime position to take command of the series. But getting the job done with the likes of Niko Mikkola playing bigger minutes, Calle Rosen stepping in again and being serviceable on the blue line, Scott Perunovich playing his first game in nearly four months and Steven Santini -- despite playing just 3:08 in the game -- filling in on a limited role evened the series 2-2.

Marco Scandella reaggravated the lower-body injury that sidelined him in Colorado April 26, played just 1:34 and will not be available for Game 5, which put more of an onus on Justin Faulk (31:10) and Colton Parayko (30:37), who each played more than half the game in most of the situations. It made for a smoother transition than expected.

"They're out there almost like every other shift, it seems like, right," Berube said. "They did a great job of containing their top players and doing a good job there, breaking pucks out, all the stuff that you want them to do.

"They both carry the puck out of our zone, which is nice and get up the ice, create some offense and things like that. Parayko, the first goal, he's in on the forecheck. He gets it in deep and he stays on the forecheck and 'Buch' makes a play to Kyrou and we score a goal. Very valuable players obviously. They're going to log a lot of minutes."

They helped make life easier on Jordan Binnington, who stepped into the series and stopped 28 of 30 shots, feeding off a crowd that certainly was very appreciative of him and will continue to do so.

"Definitely, it helps for sure. The crowd loves him, we all know that," Berube said. "He's a special player that helped us win (the Stanley Cup) here (in 2019). Like I said, down the stretch, him playing well and winning games, that creates confidence."

And then there's Ryan O'Reilly, the captain who maybe didn't produce his greatest offensive numbers during the regular season (21 goals, 37 assists) but continued to do the little things (face-offs, forecheck, backcheck, defending, protect pucks, limit turnovers/mistakes) that remain invaluable to coaches. 

Oh, and in the past seven games going back to the regular season, O'Reilly has 13 points (seven goals, six assists), including a goal and two assists in Game 4.

"I thought he had a heck of a game, O'Reilly, all-around," Berube said. "You look at the scoresheet and that's what everyone looks at, right? It's all the little things he does like you talk about. His linemates change, but he stays on the forecheck, creates an opportunity for Kyrou, who makes a fantastic move and scores a goal (to make it 3-1). If you look at O'Reilly, the penalty kill, the checking part of the game, he does a great job for us. That line (with David Perron and Brayden Schenn) went up against a top line (Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno). That's a heavy line, it's hard to handle and I thought they did a great job."

O'Reilly plays a dogged game but doesn't usually get rattled. The Wild tried to get under his skin, especially in the first period, to no avail. They tried to physically knock him around, on his skates and on the ice, with little effect.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues center Ryan O'Reilly (right) and defenseman Niko Mikkola are able

to wedge out Wild forward Marcus Foligno from the puck Sunday.

"He doesn't really get rattled by stuff like that," Berube said. "He's pretty controlled all the time. I don't see him get too unemotional, I guess. He understands. Guys are going to hit. He'll battle through it.

"I think if you look at the situation throughout the season, power play-wise too, he gets a lot of chances. He just wasn't capitalizing for them, but he stays with it. It's the same as we were just talking about, he doesn't let it bother him, he doesn't get rattled. He's very happy for the other guys producing and he does what he has to do. There's a lot of times players go through situations in years and slumps where they're not producing offensively like they want to and it bothers them, but he does other stuff that is just as important for the team."

Perhaps the Blues will get some reinforcements in Nick Leddy, who hasn't played since Game 1, and Robert Bortuzzo, who was injured in Game 2. Regardless, they soldier on, with or without them.

"I want to wait until after the skate and then see how they come through," Berube said. "... They're a great team. They're hard to play against. They do a good job, and we're a good team too, so here we are. We're tied."

Blues go back to a familiar face to help them even best-of-7 series with Wild

St. Louis turns to its Stanley Cup-winning goalie Binnington, playing with 

depleted defensive unit, turns in 28-save performance in 5-2 victory in Game 4

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- Backed into a bit of a corner trailing 2-1 in their best-of-7 first round series with the Minnesota Wild, the Blues turned to someone who's been there between the pipes and done that.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

Jordan Binnington (50) saw his first postseason action this year and made

28 saves in helping the Blues to a 5-2 win over the Wild in Game 4.

It hasn't been easy for 2019 Stanley Cup champ Jordan Binnington, who stormed the league as a rookie then but who hasn't tasted victory since raising the Cup in Game 7 in Boston on June 12, 2019.

But down 2-1 against the Wild, the Blues needed a change of pace. Their last two games haven't gone according to script. Nothing against Ville Husso, but it was a pressure situation, and Binnington has been in these pressure type of games.

He was a backbone then, and lent a helping hand in being a backbone on Sunday in Game 4, making 28 saves, including some key ones in the third period of a 5-2 Blues victory at Enterprise Center to tie the series 2-2.

Going down 3-1 in the series was not an ideal situation for the Blues against a Wild squad that gained some confidence the past two games, one that has played equally as well as the Blues did down the stretch in the regular season.

And no offense to Ville Husso, who has had him a solid regular-season and who out-dueled Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 1 with a 37-save shutout, but the Blues needed something different.

On home ice, it was their moment to make this a best-of-3 series.

They got it.

Binnington had been 0-9 with a 4.19 goals-against average and .875 save percentage in the playoffs since. 

Forget the monkey. Take that gorilla and hurl it as far off your back as you can.

"It felt good, I felt prepared," Binnington said. "We had a good start to the game, a really good first period. Definitely a big win, a hard-fought win. We had guys step in the lineup, but I felt pretty good.

"Definitely I had to be patient. Nothing this morning, wait for the game, just hanging out at home and just prepping."

There was something about Saturday that gave a subtle hint that Binnington would get the nod. He was first on the practice ice at Centene Community Ice Center, and rather early too. He was working with goalie coach Dave Alexander, but getting in extensive work.

The Blues not only were going to mix and match their lineup, which included a patchwork defensive unit that included Steven Santini, Calle Rosen and Scott Perunovich, but they were going to go to the grizzled, experienced 28-year-old.

"We wanted to make a switch," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "We lost two in a row and just change the momentum and luck a little bit. I thought he was really good tonight. He played the puck extremely well, which is a big thing. He looked real calm and cool in the net."

The stoic-mannered Binnington, who doesn't tip his emotions whether good or bad, got the news he was going in and began his preparation.

Remember, this is a guy that was basically banished to another organization's American Hockey League team (Providence, the Boston Bruins' affiliate) in 2017-18 and had to work his way back up the ranks to become relevant in the Blues organization again. If anyone knows hardships, Binnington does.

"I think it was yesterday, I'm not really sure," Binnington said of when he was told. "I think it was yesterday. That was it. Just said, 'You're in.'

"However it played out, you've got to be ready for whatever's to come and I was just putting in that work and building that resiliency for if or when that time came."

That time came, and there were no raw emotions when Berube told Binnington.

"He's always the same," Berube said. "He doesn't give me much of a reaction. He just said, 'OK.' That's him though. He's a quiet guy. He doesn't show a lot of emotion in that area and he just goes and plays."

It started with the pregame introductions when Binnington's name was announced that the 18,096 roared in approval. With each save he made, a number of them key saves, there were loud cheers, and when he was speaking on Bally Sports Midwest postgame, Binnington received the love from the crowd.

It felt like old times again.

"On our side, definitely special," Binnington said. 'That's the show, as I say. It was a lot of fun being out there and competing. The crowd after when we scored, big saves, big kills, they know the game here. It's always fun to play in front of this crowd."

The Blues didn't give Binnington a whole lot of work in the first period, but when he was beat on the short side by Kirill Kaprizov on Minnesota's fourth shot of the game to tie the game 1-1 late in the first period, there were some groans among the crowd. 

This time it didn't faze Binnington.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (right) gets congratulated by captain Ryan

O'Reilly after backstopping them to a 5-2 win over Minnesota in Game 4.

He made a real big stop on Kaprizov's one-timer in the second period of a 3-1 game with the Wild on the power play, sliding from right to left to seal off the near side net, and Binnington kicked out Ryan Hartman's attempt in the third off a 2-on-1 after Perunovich got caught on a pinch in the offensive zone with the Blues clinging to a 3-2 lead.

That's experience and being the backbone of a young, experienced blue line.

"These are why we play, these are fun moments," Binnington said. "There's adversity and just backing it up and picking yourself up and trying to get back at it again. It was an opportunity for me tonight. We played a heck of a game, we kept it tight. Now we just shift our focus to next game and prepare."

Does this sound familiar? It should. Sounds a lot like a goalie who prepared in 2019. 

Instead of sizzle, Blues fizzle in 5-1 loss in Game 3 against Wild

Minnesota leads best-of-7 series after jumping out to quick two-goal lead; 

depleted St. Louis defense gets no help from underachieving forwards

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The Blues put out a hype video, filled with a laser light show, to get the 18,096 more than amped up.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues goalie Ville Husso (right) makes a save on the breakaway by Wild

forward Kirill Kaprizov in the first period of Game 3.

Lights were flashing, the video got the crowd more lively than usual, then the Blues hit the ice to what was supposed to be the rollout to their pivotal Game 3 opening against the Minnesota Wild.

But instead feeding off the emotion of their loyal fans, the Blues flickered like a futile Bick lighter.

They fell behind by two goals before they knew what hit them, then they tried hitting their way back into the game before succumbing 5-1 to fall behind the best-of-7 first-round series 2-1.

The Blues, who lost 6-2 in Game 2 but actually played pretty good despite some bad breaks/bounces, were pitiful from the outset.

They actually began the game with a shift in the Minnesota zone, pitting their line with Ryan O'Reilly, David Perron and Brandon Saad against the Wild's shutdown line of Jordan Greenway, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno. They had what they wanted, which was the zone time, but eventually, lost the puck along the wall (a common theme among forwards in this game), Colton Parayko got caught on a late pinch, and it resulted in a 2-on-1 that Greenway scored off a one-timer just 39 seconds into the game for a 1-0 Minnesota lead and bursting the bubble of the sellout crowd.

And if that didn't stun the home side and its fans, then the Kirill Kaprizov goal at 2:19 did that made it 2-0.

It came off an offensive zone giveaway by Ivan Barbahsev that led to a breakaway, one in which Ville Husso got a piece of Kaprozov's initial shot, but the WIld Russian alertly got behind the net and threw the puck back into the crease off Husso's skate and into the net.
If for any reason someone wasn't settled into their seat yet, which was highly unlikely, then they missed out on the range of emotions of jubilation to stunned silence.

"Yeah, absolutely, I think it was definitely deflating for us, but we’re a veteran team and we should’ve responded better," said Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly, who scored the lone goal on the power play. "Bounces are going to happen. We came out with great energy, feeding off the building, and I thought we did some great things well, but maybe got too excited offensively. We’ve got to be responsible and then build our game from there. Obviously we were down two early, and yeah, we need to respond quicker. We just kind of got a little frustrated and it kind of just took the wind out of our sails. It was, yeah, too tough to generate anything to kind of get the momentum back. Yeah, it was just difficult."

It was the exact opposite of what the Blues were looking for and needing, and just like Game 2, now they're chasing the game, and it didn't get any better.

The Blues came into the game depleted on defense, playing without injured Nick Leddy and Robert Bortuzzo but they did get Marco Scandella back after the veteran missed three games with a lower-body injury.

But the Blues came into the game having to play Niko Mikkola heavy minutes and Calle Rosen for a second straight game, and to make matters worse, the defense got more fragile when they lost Torey Krug to an apparent left leg injury with 9:03 left in the opening period after a failed check.

"It's tough, it's tough on the D, it's tough on the team," Blues coach Craig Berube said. 'We lose our quarterback power play guy and it's what it is."

And instead of playing the game and working their way back, the Blues turned into gangbusters and tried to hit their way back into the game. They finished with 33 hits, but 21 of them were in the first period, and 

"I think obviously we got pretty excited being back and home, with the crowd," Blues center Tyler Bozak said. "And maybe sometimes we hit when we didn’t need to, or went out of our way to make a hit. We've got to be careful with that, running around too much, and just be poised and we’ll be ready for next game."

"Yeah I thought that after we went down 2-0, we were trying for home runs a little too much and lost our composure a little bit instead of just sticking with the game," Berube said. "A lot of game left to play. And the third and fourth goal there, their goals that (they got), we shouldn't have allowed to happen."

But as much as the Blues were going to have to a tough time missing two of their top six defensemen, the forward group was in tact, and they were pitiful at best.

Their passes were nowhere near sharp. Skaters were fumbling pucks, and let's not blame the ice, because two teams were playing on it and the Wild didn't have those issues. If players weren't fumbling pucks, they were off target, and when there were one-and-dones after skaters were doing fly-by's the net instead of parking in front of Marc-Andre Fleury's penchant for leaving juicy rebounds, the backcheck on a vulnerable and depleted defense was sorely lacking.

Aside from Kaprizov's early breakaway, Greenway also had one against a loose and shoddy defensive game plan from the forwards to the blue liners.

"Our forwards didn't reload hard enough on a couple plays and then D got caught watching on a couple plays," Berube said. "It can't happen. We had the right intentions to start the game, but you've got to be detailed.

"(The first goal) was a solid shift and our D is caught in there. Either he's got to ... he's kind of caught in between and be a little more aggressive, don't allow that play to happen, but we've got no forward to back them up. And then we've got to play the 2-on-1 better.

"You've got to help each other out, and like I said, our forwards are going to have to dig in and do a lot more than they're doing."

Well, they're not doing a ton this series thus far. The 5-on-5 offense is all but moot at this point. The Blues have scored seven goals in three games, of which three game come at even strength, and one came two seconds after the conclusion of a power play.

"Well, there's different circumstances I think in all three games, but tonight, I thought we had some real good looks around the net," Berube said. "We were at the net. We're not getting any bounces there right now in my opinion, but we've got to do a better job of making some plays on the rush. I don't think that we're making enough plays on the rush. It seems like we're a little bit stagnant there. We've been a real good rush team all year and making plays on the rush and scoring goals, but the d-corps is beat up right now. We don't have the best puck movers right now, but we can't look at that as an excuse. We've got to find a way to figure that our, we've got to find a way to do it."

Being at home, the Blues have the last change, and they finally got the Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Vladimir Tarasenko line away from Minnesota's line dubbed the 'Greef' line.
It didn't matter.

"Yeah, we need them to do more for sure, 100 percent," Berube said. "They're better than that.

"They're getting checked pretty hard I think. There's not a lot of room out there. You've got to battle through checking. That's part of it all. They've got to be stronger 1-on-1. They really do. That's the bottom line."

But it's not just Buchnevich, Thomas and Tarasenko. This is a unit that had nine 20-goal scorers that simply isn't producing.

"I wish I could pinpoint it," O'Reilly said. "I don’t know exactly. You know, the goals come with the details and the other things, from our forecheck and having good o-zone time. Right now we’re just kind of, or tonight, we weren’t our best. We weren’t possessing the puck like we normally do, and when that happens, it’s tough to score goals. There’s no panic though. We’re going to reset and get back at them next game."

The fumbling of pucks was perplexing. One sequence, when Thomas flipped a pass that Buchnevich fumbled and kicked right to a Wild defenseman that turned back around for an odd-man rush, led to a goal by Mats Zuccarello for a 3-0 lead.

(St. Louis Blues/Scott Rovak)

Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) looks to move the puck while being

defended by the Wild's Alex Goligoski on Friday.  

"It wasn't very clean tonight for sure," Berube said. "I didn't think our puck play was very clean tonight, bouncing or just not clean passes. Going into Game 4, it's 2-1, we're at home. 
"Listen, you've got to go out with a mindset that we can't give up 2-on-1's early in the game and things like that. We've got to be better there and you've got to be a little more patient, and I think we're forcing things a lot of times when we don't need to."

The Blues are going to have to find some things that they can make work or else this series will be done on Tuesday.

"It’s a best-of-7 series," Bozak said. "We’re going to be home again in the next one and we've got to win it. We’ll go in tomorrow, we’ll watch some video, we’ll get better. We’ll refocus and adjust and we’ll come out ready to go in Game 4."

"We'll go on the ice tomorrow, we'll work on a few things and we'll work on some power play and things like that, we'll get the guys regrouped and you go play," Berube said. "It is what it is with the d-corps. They're banged up back there, but we've got to be simple back there, we've got to move the puck as quickly as we can and our forwards have to do a lot more than they're doing right now. That's the bottom line. They're not doing enough."

(5-6-22) Wild-Blues Game 3 Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- If the Blues are to gain an edge against the Minnesota Wild in their first-round playoff series, they'll potentially have to do so without three of their top six defensemen in the lineup.

Nick Leddy and Robert Bortuzzo remain out and will miss today's pivotal Game 3 with the series tied 1-1 (8:30 p.m.; BSMW, TNT, ESPN 101.1-FM). Each player has an upper-body injury. Leddy hasn't played since Game 1 and Bortuzzo was injured in the first period of Game 2.

As far as an update, Blues coach Craig Berube said, "Not much. They’re out. That’s it. I don’t really have much information on them."

Are either feeling better?

"Yeah, a little bit, I guess, which is a good sign," Berube said. "I haven’t really communicated with them that much today."

As for Marco Scandella, who's missed the past three games with a lower-body injury, he will be a game-time decision to potentially make his playoff debut.

"Well, he’s been one of our D-men all year for the most part, and a lot of experience obviously," Berube said. "He’s played a lot of games in the league and playoff games, so experience, size, he’s a good penalty killer for us. He plays against top players on the other team, so he does a lot."

With Scandella a possibility, it leaves the door open that either Steven Santini, recalled from Springfield under emergency conditions on Thursday, to either make his season debut with the Blues or get assigned back to the Thunderbirds since he's here on emergency conditions.
But the Blues could potentially go into tonight with a third defensive unit of Calle Rosen and Santini.

"Matchups more than anything," Berube said. "You’re at home, you’ve got to do a good job there with your matchups. Faulk, Krug and Parayko, they’re going to get a lot of ice time. You’ve got to mix and match and get the right people on the ice against certain people. There’s not much more you can do other than that. They need to play.

"Rosen is doing, I think, what he does. He’s a good puck mover and he’s a good skater, and I think he’s doing that stuff. I think he’s been doing that stuff for a while for us. On the other side of things, he’s going to have to battle hard down in his own zone. He’s going to have to move pucks quickly on the breakouts and he’s going to have to battle on the D-zone coverage at the net-front. They go to the net really well, so he’s going to have to compete his butt off there. ... Yeah, same type of player (Santini). He’s a stay-at-home D-man, plays around the net. He’s a disciplined player. Again, simple puck movement but he plays a hard game. He’s going to get in the way, he’s going to be physical, he’s going to block shots, those types of things."

This will definitely put an onus on Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk and Torey Krug to not only bring it tonight but they'll have to do it playing big minutes. That, and the help of the forwards.

"We just got to get the puck deep and we just got to play the game," forward Ivan Barbashev said. "I mean, our team is really effective when we get it deep and go play physical, forecheck. reloads and yeah, we were missing some defensemen, but I feel like it's going to be more on forwards to not turn the puck over for the most part and just get it deep and go to work."

- - -

Another lineup change in store for the Blues is inserting Dakota Joshua in for Nathan Walker.

It will be Joshua's NHL playoff debut and will certainly provide some heaviness and physicality to his game, which should spring life into what will be a raucous crowd.

"Yeah, and heaviness, size. He’s a big guy, can skate well, gets on top of people," Berube said of Joshua. "I thought he was playing extremely well before he got sent down. So, it’s a good-size line with a veteran centerman that can do the job in their own zone."

- - -

The Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Vladimir Tarasenko line was sealed for the most part by Minnesota's shutdown line of Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Marcus Foligno in Game 1; The Blues' trio was more effective in Game 2, with Thomas picking up two apples and Tarasenko scoring once and hitting the cross bar another time, and Buchnevich getting one assist.

With the home changes and getting the chance to get them away from the Eriksson Ek line, the Blues' hottest trio down the stretch will get their opportunities to pounce the next two games.

"Better job. I thought when I look back, Buchy hit the cross bar, Tommer had some good looks that just got deflected or just missed and then Vladi scored, hit a post, I thought (Marc-Andre) Fleury really made a good save on that rush play where we went backdoor," Berube said. "It was a great save by Fleury on that play. They had some looks. I was pleased to see them get more offense last game than they did the game before. They've just got to keep battling through it. There's not going to be easy ice. Overall offensively, we didn't do enough in the game. We've got to get to the net more. We've got to make it difficult more. We've got to get to the net, we've got to get second and third opportunities around the net and we've got to get there."

Thomas said they know they'll be able to get on the ice and not have that unit shadow them all the time.

"Yeah, I mean, they're good line," Thomas said. "We knew coming in that they're trying to try to match up all the lines and trying to find a matchup that's favorable for them. I think they did a good job in the first game. I think tonight we created some more chances. I think we were a lot better. We still got more to give. But yeah, going home, you got to be happy with one in this building, especially against a team like them. Now we’ve got to go home and bring it."

"I think we play pretty good second game," Buchnevich said. "We create some chances. We didn't create enough the first game, but we still got the 4-0 win, it doesn't matter who step up. Hopefully our line step up today and give us a result to our team."

- - -

The Blues experienced the home crowd at Xcel Energy Center for the Wild and it was loud, especially in Game 2. Now they get to experience it in front of the Enterprise Center crowd, looking for the energy from their fans.

"We all know we're going to come out hard and physical so that's what usually happens, but we got to keep our emotions in check so can't be too pumped up. Just really excited for the game tonight," Barbashev said.

"Like Barby say, it's a big crowd," Buchnevich said. "Everybody excited for this time of year. We've got to handle our emotion and play our game and we'll be fine.

"I just think we play in Minny, we have like a good heat, crowd go nuts and hopefully today, we got same thing. Somebody like crush someone and crowd give us emotion and give us momentum and we capitalize on it."

Emotion and energy will be at a premium.

"Listen, the guys will be excited playing at home," Berube said. "We’ve got a great crowd here, a great fanbase, it’s going to be a lot of energy in the crowd. We’ve just got to make sure that we stay a little bit controlled emotionally, not get too loose. Play simple, play north to get into the game, things will settle down and then we’ll go play hockey."

- - - 

The Blues have had their success against Fleury in the past, and the key to doing it, which wasn't there enough in Game 2.

"Just be in front of the net, shoot more pucks," Barbashev said. "He’s a good goalie, but we play good players, too, we can beat him. Just shoot more pucks and nothing special there."

Berube agreed.

"Traffic for sure, like most goalies," Berube said. "You’ve got to get in front of them, screens, tips, make it hard. Go to the paint hard, get in there, make it tough on them, make it tough on their D. 

"We did not get there enough in Game 2, that’s for sure. We addressed that with our team, so that needs to be a given.”

So did Buchnevich.

"Just be in front of the net, shoot more pucks," Buchnevich said. "He's a good goalie, but we're pretty good players too. We can beat him. Just shoot more pucks, nothing special there."

- - -

Buchnevich addressed the hit on him with the stick check to the ankle area late in the third period of Game 1 by Wild captain Jared Spurgeon, who only received a $5,000 fine from the league instead of a suspension.

Buchnevich didn't have a preference on the punishment and chose to move on from it.

"I leave at that. He apologize. I don't know," Buchnevich said. "I just (don't) know him that well. I hear he's not that type of player, but what's happened, happened. I'm not injured so it's nice, like he said that. Good words from him, and we move on."

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup:

Brandon Saad-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Vladimir Tarasenko

Ivan Barbashev-Brayden Schenn-Jordan Kyrou

Dakota Joshua-Tyler Bozak-Alexei Toropchenko

Niko Mikkola-Colton Parayko

Torey Krug-Justin Faulk

Calle Rosen-Steven Santini

Ville Husso will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Logan Brown and Nathan Walker. Nick Leddy (upper body), Robert Bortuzzo (upper body) Mackenzie MacEachern (upper body) and Scott Perunovich (wrist) are out. Marco Scandella (lower body) is a game-time decision.

- - -

The Wild's projected lineup:

Kirill Kaprizov-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello

Kevin Fiala-Frederick Gaudreau-Matt Boldy

Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Marcus Foligno

Nicolas Deslauriers-Tyson Jost-Brandon Duhaime

Jacob Middleton-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba

Jon Merrill-Alex Goligoski

Marc-Andre Fleury will start in goal; Cam Talbot will be the backup. 

Healthy scratches include Nick Bjugstad, Connor Dewar, Dmitry Kulikov and Jordie Benn. The Wild report no injuries.