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Wild vs. Blues: Game 4 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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The Blues will look to take advantage of a 3-0 series lead to pull off the sweep of the struggling Wild in their hometown arena.

Many may have expected The Blues to win this series, but no one could’ve predicted the absolute domination the team has produced through three games with the Wild.

Their defensive mastery mixed with a solid offensive performance has Minnesota on its last legs, and the Wild need to pull out all the stops to pull through in Game 4.

Jake Allen’s performance so far in this postseason has been incredible, and he is singlehandedly carrying a Blues team after a mediocre regular season. Allen has stopped 114 of 117 shots in three games against Minnesota and has a 0.91 goals-against average and .974 save percentage. The coaching change to Mike Yeo has paid dividends for Allen’s game, and he is peaking at the perfect time for St. Louis.

The key to the Wild in this game is a simple but difficult one to achieve: just be different. Minnesota announced they’re changing their lines for the elimination game, and will be looking to do anything they can to finally break through Allen’s brick wall in net. They outshot the Blues 52-26 in Game 1, doubling St. Louis’s shot totals, and couldn’t score on 51 of them.

They’ve done everything they can, and it’s simply time to reinvent themselves in order to survive. In this case, the Wild honestly must evolve or die.

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Pick: Blues 3, Wild 1

While the Wild still have some time to change their game, it’s sad to think they’ve literally done almost everything and still have nothing to show for it in this series. Allen has just been perfect in net for the Blues, and I think that the trend will continue in front of a St. Louis crowd with brooms in their hands. I predict Allen sticks with his average of one goal allowed per game, and the Blues send their fans home happy and prepare for their next opponent.

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