3 Takeaways From the Blues’ 5-4 Loss to the Wild

The St. Louis Blues‘ two-game winning streak came to an end Thursday night with a 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild. Jonatan Berggren, Mason McTavish, Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway scored for the Blues, while Matt Boldy recorded a hat trick and Danila Yurov and Kirill Kaprizov also scored for Minnesota. Despite a late comeback attempt, the Blues couldn’t overcome a three-goal deficit as turnovers and odd-man rushes plagued them throughout the game.

Jonatan Berggren Is Taking a Major Step Forward

Jonatan Berggren is starting to look like a different player, and his performance against the Wild was another sign of his growth. Just 1:45 into the game, Berggren drove toward the net from below the goal line, made a slick move and finished with a backhand goal on the power play to give the Blues an early 1-0 lead.

For a power play that entered the game ranked 26th in the NHL, getting an early goal was a major boost. Berggren showed the kind of skill and confidence that can make him a valuable offensive contributor as the season progresses.

Berggren has also been part of an outstanding second line alongside McTavish and Connor McMichael. The trio has provided a much-needed offensive spark, with McTavish showcasing his scoring ability by beating Jesper Wallstedt five-hole on a breakaway to tie the game at 2-2. Although Minnesota quickly regained the lead, the line’s offensive production has been an encouraging development for a team that needs more consistent scoring.

Berggren signed a one-year, $2 million contract this offseason, giving him an opportunity to prove he deserves a bigger role and a more lucrative deal. If he continues to build on his recent performances and establish himself as a consistent offensive contributor, he could be in line for a significant payday when his contract expires. The Blues need more players to step up, and Berggren is making a strong case that he can be one of them.

Too Many Turnovers and Odd-Man Rushes Doomed the Blues

The Blues made life far too easy for Minnesota by repeatedly turning over the puck and allowing dangerous odd-man rushes. Those mistakes put constant pressure on Joel Hofer and ultimately proved too much to overcome.

The Wild capitalized on the Blues’ defensive breakdowns throughout the first two periods. Matt Boldy tied the game at 1-1 on a 5-on-3 power play after the Blues took consecutive penalties. Minnesota then took a 2-1 lead when Danila Yurov finished a 3-on-2 rush off a pass from Nikita Shabanov. The Blues continued to give Minnesota too much space, and Boldy struck again in the second period after Mason McTavish tied the game at 2-2, restoring the Wild’s lead with a shot from in front of the net.

The mistakes only got worse from there. Kirill Kaprizov scored to make it 4-2 after another defensive breakdown, while Boldy completed his hat trick to extend the lead to 5-2. Turnovers from Cam Fowler and Justin Barron contributed to Minnesota’s opportunities, and the Blues struggled to win puck battles in their own zone.

The Blues cannot expect to win consistently while giving opponents so many quality scoring chances. Some mistakes are understandable, especially from younger players such as Dylan Peterson, but the team must make better decisions with the puck and do a better job managing it through the neutral zone.

The late comeback made the final score look respectable, but the defensive breakdowns were too costly. Against a team with Minnesota’s offensive talent, those mistakes will continue to end in goals.

Joel Hofer Somehow Still Looked Good

Despite allowing five goals, Hofer was one of the few Blues players who could walk away from this game with some positives. He finished with 33 saves on 38 shots, facing a constant barrage of chances while receiving little help from the defense in front of him.

Hofer made several impressive stops throughout the game, particularly as Minnesota continued to generate odd-man rushes and find open space in front of the net. The Wild finished with 38 shots, surpassing the Blues’ previous season high of 36 allowed against the Colorado Avalanche in another lopsided loss.

The score could have been even worse without Hofer’s performance. Minnesota repeatedly found itself with quality scoring opportunities, and the goaltender was often left trying to bail out a defense that struggled to contain the Wild’s attack.

Hofer did have a costly moment in the third period when he was called for interference after leveling Kaprizov while attempting to play the puck. Still, that play shouldn’t overshadow the difficult circumstances he faced throughout the night.

A .868 save percentage is not a strong statistical performance, and Hofer would certainly like to have some of those goals back. However, the Blues’ defensive mistakes made his job considerably more difficult. The team cannot expect its goaltenders to consistently overcome that many turnovers and breakdowns.

The Blues will cap off their road trip against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 17.