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Blues vs. Wild Game 2 prediction

By David Austin Bumpus

Mar 25, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) blocks a shot during the first period against the Calgary Flames at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Blues goalie Jake Allen (34) blocks a shot during the first period against the Calgary Flames at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports /
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After an incredible series opener that went to overtime, the Blues will look to continue their momentum in Game 2 against the Wild.

Game 1 between the Blues and the Wild in Minnesota should not have disappointed anyone watching from a hockey standpoint, but surely upset Wild fans in the arena after Joel Edmundson’s overtime winner.

St. Louis took home Game 1 of their series with the Wild thanks to one man: Jake Allen. The Blues goalie was on fire Wednesday night, tallying 51 saves in net and practically standing on his head for half the night. The Wild outshot the Blues 52-26, literally doubling their counterpart’s shot totals, and couldn’t find the back of the net on 51 of them.

Minnesota did almost everything right in Game 1, getting the puck on net repeatedly and playing a physical style the whole game against the Blues. However, nothing would bounce their way the entire night, and the team needed a goal from Zach Parise with 22.7 seconds left just to send the game to overtime.

In Game 2, Minnesota really has nothing to change in their game plan, other than hope Allen makes mistakes in net for the Blues. The goalie, like the Blues’ playoff preview laid out, has been inconsistent all year for St. Louis, and finds himself at times at the extreme ends of the spectrum. For every 51 save game Allen has, there’s almost surely going to be a few mistakes on the other end.

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Pick: Wild 2, Blues 1

Like I said, the Wild did almost all they could on Wednesday night in Game 1, and were unlucky in facing Allen in what was statistically the best game of his career. However, something has to give in Game 2, and I see the Wild pushing through on a typically inconsistent Allen a few more times than Game 1. The home crowd will play a factor, and the Wild will take home a 2-1 win to even the series heading into St. Louis.

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