|
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It’s do-or-die for the St. Louis Blues. The Minnesota Wild enter Game 6 of this Western Conference first-round Stanley Cup playoff series with a 3-2 lead and a chance to close it out Sunday at Xcel Energy Center. Here’s what to watch for: Desperation: This series has been so unpredictable with the lack of momentum. For the first time in franchise history the Wild lead a series going into an elimination game, and the last thing they want is to go back to St. Louis for a possible Game 7 on Wednesday. Similar to Games 4 and 5, the Blues want a strong start in hopes of getting to the Wild early. Minnesota can’t sit back. The Wild must play this game like it’s a Game 7. "[Game 6] is going to have to be our best," said the Blues’ Jaden Schwartz. "Our season's on the line, really, plain and simple. We have to do everything we can to bring it back [to St. Louis] and that's going to be our mentality and leave everything out there and have no excuses at the end of the game." Masked men: Vezina finalist Devan Dubnyk was spectacular in his 36-save performance in the Wild's 4-1 victory in Game 5. He will need another one like that in Game 6 to lead the Wild to victory. After the team’s optional practice Saturday, he didn’t seem anxious. In fact, he was confident the Wild would bring their best game Sunday. The last thing Minnesota wants is a repeat performance of Game 4 on home ice when the Blues dismantled the Wild 6-1. If anything, Minnesota should have learned from that loss and remember that experience for Sunday. "I think so. I think it’s a good chance for us with that fresh in our minds," Dubnyk said. "I think maybe it’ll be good for us to see what happened the last time we got a lead and maybe were a little bit comfortable. But that’s just a lesson that’s fresh in our minds and we can use and feed off of to make sure we’re ready for [Game 6]." At the other end of the ice, St. Louis netminder Jake Allen has been sharp. In order for the Blues to force a Game 7, they must connect on their quality scoring chances, which they failed to do in Game 5. Watching and waiting: The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Nashville Predators in the first round and will face either the Wild or the Blues in the second round. The Blackhawks played both teams in the playoffs last spring, defeating St. Louis in six games in the first round and Minnesota in six games in the second round. Both teams would love a rematch. Back in?: Blues center Jori Lehtera missed Game 5 due to a lower-body injury. He practiced Saturday and coach Ken Hitchcock said he looked good, but that a decision would be made prior to Game 6 about whether he would be in the lineup. Projected lineups: MINNESOTA
Zach Parise-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville
Jason Zucker-Mikko Koivu-Chris Stewart
Thomas Vanek-Charlie Coyle-Jordan Schroeder
Matt Cooke-Kyle Brodziak-Justin Fontaine Ryan Suter-Jonas Brodin
Marco Scandella-Jared Spurgeon
Matt Dumba-Jordan Leopold Devan Dubnyk ST. LOUIS Alexander Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie
Jaden Schwartz-Paul Stastny-Vladimir Tarasenko
Dmitrij Jaskin-Marcel Goc-Patrik Berglund
Chris Porter-Steve Ott-Ryan Reaves Jay Bouwmeester-Alex Pietrangelo
Carl Gunnarsson-Kevin Shattenkirk
Barret Jackman-Zbynek Michalek Jake Allen
|
