2 Storylines: Blues
Defensive Depth Being Tested
When asked (Thursday) about Santini’s availability for tonight’s game, Berube said: “There’s a chance. We’ve got to see how guys are. Day to day to rest and see how they feel tomorrow. Then we’ll go from there, but we need to make sure. We’ve got to get a guy in just to be ready.”
Santini’s style seems to fit Berube’s system, and he can fit in well in a limited role. In his comments on the defenseman, Berube continued to say: “He’s not going to wow you with the puck play or anything like that, but he’s going to make simple plays, and he’s going to play hard, and he’s going to battle at the net and do things like that. He’s going to try and make it difficult for the other team.”
Related: Blues’ Acquisition of Leddy is Band-Aid on Defensive Depth
The 27-year-old right-shot defenseman has played 66 games for the Springfield Thunderbirds this season, scoring two goals and 18 points.
Blues Confident Despite Loss
After shutting out the Wild 4-0 in Game 1, Minnesota capitalized early and never looked back in their 6-2 victory. Despite the lopsided score, the team is confident and pleased with the game they played. Game 2 started with an unlucky break as Bortuzzo’s stick broke as he was trying to clear the puck from the defensive zone. As the team’s forwards were in transition in the neutral zone, the Wild quickly recovered and fired a shot on goaltender Ville Husso to give them a 1-0 lead.
After the game, Berube said: Yeah, a couple bad breaks. That’s the way it goes. Our guys competed all 60 minutes, played hard. You’ve got to try and find a way to get some second and third opportunities around the paint a little bit more, and Fleury made some big saves.”
The Wild managed a 4-0 lead before the Blues got on the board with a goal from Jordan Kyrou. Back-to-back goals from the Blues, including a goal by Vladimir Tarasenko 4:14 into the third period, were the team’s only tallies on 34 shots.
In Game 3, St. Louis will need all hands on deck to battle a dangerous Minnesota offense that averaged the fifth-highest goals per game average at 3.72. After Game 2, forward Robert Thomas said: “I liked our push even throughout the whole game. I thought 5-on-5, we played pretty well. I think we’re pretty happy with (that). I mean, it felt like we were coming on, coming on, and a couple posts, a couple crossbars, and [Fleury] made some big saves over there, so you have to give him some credit.”
2 Storylines: Wild
Kaprizov Hat Trick
The Minnesota Wild’s 25-year-old phenom again made his way into the record books when he scored the franchise’s first hat trick in playoff history in Game 2. The Russian forward scored 47 goals and 108 points this season and became the team’s leading points producer in a single season.
After a 4-0 loss on home ice during Game 1, Kaprizov was ready to go and happy with his team’s play. It showed as the Wild continued to surge throughout Game 2. When asked about the series so far, Kaprizov said: “To be honest, I didn’t want to change anything from Game 1 (a 4-0 loss). I even think in Game 1 there were some chances that didn’t go in for us. So, in Game 2, just try to stick to the same recipe, do the same thing, and obviously, things worked out. So, really just trying not to focus on it too much. Just play the game.”
Eriksson-Ek Has Become a Coveted Asset for Minnesota
After scoring two goals and adding an assist in Game 2, Eriksson-Ek is becoming a familiar and unpopular name among Blues fans. Selected 20th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he has become an elite defensive forward who can play in all situations. This season, the 25-year-old scored 26 goals and 49 points in 77 games.
“He’d sure (tick) me off, that’s for sure,” Evason said. “I think you can ask the rest of his teammates if they have fun doing d-zone coverage drills with him. I guarantee you they don’t. Because it doesn’t matter to him, it doesn’t matter if he’s playing Game 2 in the Stanley Cup or if he’s probably playing shinny back home in Sweden, he’s going to do the exact same thing. His game doesn’t change” (from ‘There’s nothing Wild about Minnesota’s Game 3 objectives,’ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/6/22).
Players to Watch
St. Louis: Buchnevich-Thomas-Tarasenko line: The trio became one of the hottest lines in hockey near the end of the season. Back on home ice and looking to take a 2-1 lead in the series, this line deserves attention.
Minnesota: Two assists in Game 2 and three shots on goal throughout the playoffs, the 34-year-old veteran is a threat to watch tonight after scoring 24 goals and 79 points in 70 games this season.
Projected Line Combinations
St. Louis Blues
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Brandon Saad | Ryan O’Reilly | David Perron |
| Pavel Buchnevich | Robert Thomas | Vladimir Tarasenko |
| Ivan Barbashev | Brayden Schenn | Jordan Kyrou |
| Dakota Joshua | Tyler Bozak | Alexi Toropchenko |
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Niko Mikkola | Colton Parayko |
| Torey Krug | Justin Faulk |
| Cale Rosen | Steven Santini |
| Starting Goalie |
| Ville Husso |
Minnesota Wild
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
| Kirill Kaprizov | Ryan Hartman | Mats Zuccarello |
| Kevin Fiala | Frederick Gaudreau | Matthew Boldy |
| Jordan Greenway | Joel Eriksson Ek | Marcus Foligno |
| Nicolas Deslauriers | Tyson Jost | Brandon Duhaime |
| Left Defense | Right Defense |
| Jonas Brodin | Mathew Dumba |
| Jacob Middleton | Jared Spurgeon |
| Jon Merrill | Alex Goligoski |
| Starting Goalie |
| Marc-Andre Fleury |
Blues’ Next Game: Game 4, Sunday, May 8 vs Minnesota Wild (3:30 PM CST)
