7 p.m. vs. St. Louis • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, NBCSN, 100.3-FM
After opening loss, Game 2 becomes crucial for Wild
Preview: Game 2 is especially critical for the team trailing 1-0. Teams that take a 2-0 series lead go on to win 87.3 percent of the time, 89.2 percent when that Game 2 win is on the road. Home teams that tie a series at 1-1 go on to win 55.2 percent of the time. The Wild fired a franchise playoff-record 52 shots and outhit the Blues 35-18 but still lost Game 1 2-1 in overtime.
Players to watch: Blues G Jake Allen recorded the fourth 50-plus-save performance in Blues history Wednesday and first since 1993 (Curtis Joseph). D Joel Edmundson became the fifth Blues defenseman to score a playoff overtime goal. … Wild LW Zach Parise, who scored his 31st career playoff goal Wednesday, is tied for second in Wild history with 10 playoff goals and ranks first with 26 playoff points. C Mikko Koivu has 23 points in 46 career playoff games, ranking second in franchise history in scoring and tied for second in goals (10).
Numbers: The Wild is 2-9 in Game 2 all-time, including five consecutive losses.
Injuries: Blues C Paul Stastny (foot) is out. RW Nail Yakupov (undisclosed) and D Robert Bortuzzo (upper body) are questionable.
Michael Russo
