first-round preview: wild vs. blues
The Blues are one of the biggest, deepest, most physical teams in the NHL.
Led by former Minnesota State Mankato standout David Backes and budding star Vladimir Tarasenko, the Blues can outhit you or outskill you. They're three lines deep offensively and have one of the best blue lines in the NHL, led by Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Jay Bouwmeester.
Where most consider them exposable is in goal with young Jake Allen or veteran Brian Elliott.
tale of the tape
BluesWild
Record51-24-746-28-8
Home rec. 27-12-2 22-13-6
Away rec. 24-12-5 24-15-2
*Season series 2-2 2-1-1
Goals per game2.912.77
Goals against2.402.42
Goal differential +47+30
Shots per game 30.9 30.8
Power play 22.3%15.8%
Penalty kill 83.7% 86.3%
* Wild outscored the Blues 13-10
