Game six and the Wild are the team facing elimination tonight in St. Louis.

All along we knew this was going to be a long series and one that would take many turns along the way. The Blues tool control in game 1, the Wild in 2 and 3. Games 4 and 5 were more competitive but in the end the adjustments the Blues made paid off.

Time to see what Dean Evason does to stir the troops to play 69 minutes like they played the first 30 on Tuesday night. In Game four with the Wild up two to one in the series and the Bkues defense decimated by injury, Craig Berube turned to his veterans, Justin Faulk and Colton Parayko and basically said if we're going down it will be with our best on the ice.

Dean Evason likes when his fourth line plays 10-12 minutes per night, but this is the playoffs and quite honestly, with the exception of Tyson Jost they have been nearly invisible.

Message to Dean Evason, you win with your horses come playoff time when it matters. Yes, secondary scoring is needed, but Kaprizov and Fiala have to log big minutes tonight, period.

Cam Talbot is getting the net and for all the second guesses out there this is the right move. Those that know the Wild and have seen Talbot over his first two seasons in Minnesota, he plays his best hockey when he is challenged by his goaltending partner.

It also appears that Dmitry Kulikov will draw into the Wild lineup replacing Alex Goligoski.

Wild need to establish the forecheck and work the Blues defensemen all night. Watch the casual dump inside as Jordan Binnington is much better at handling the puck and too often he has had easy outs. Gotta make it tough on thw Blues and game seven will happen.

It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!

Join the Discussion: » 19 Comments » Post New Comment

» Walker Up, Goligoski On LTIR

» Wild Look To Tighten Up The D Zone

» New Season Of Hope For Wild

» Kirill Gets The "A"

» Zuccarello Extended For 2 Years