Corey Harvey: Game Three--Blues @ Wild The Blues try to keep the momentum they built in Game 2 going tonight in Minnesota.

I'm curious to see how Yeo changes his line match ups with the last change. Any thoughts on that, anyone?

Will Yeo try to match Parise, Granlund, and Stewart against the STL line? How soon until the Wild realize that Stewart is a defensive liability?

If the blues play like they did in Periods 1 and 2 Saturday tonight they will probably win.

If they Dont they will probably lose.

I for one think they will play like they did Saturday.

Thisi s going to be a key game. Blues need to win tonight.

If the blues play like they did in Periods 1 and 2 Saturday tonight they will probably win.

If they Dont they will probably lose.

I for one think they will play like they did Saturday.

Thisi s going to be a key game. Blues need to win tonight.
- sycsam

Yup, pretty much what I've been preaching all along. The series really comes down to how the Blues choose to play.

DD has had a tremendous run, but I've seen nothing from him that tells me he's the second coming of Patrick Waa and will steal this series.

After two games, he's the second best goalie in this series.

Tonight, IMO, is more of a must-win game for MN than for the Blues. If the Blues win game 3 the pressure begins to mount on the Wild.

I feel an OT game coming soon.

Yup, pretty much what I've been preaching all along. The series really comes down to how the Blues choose to play.

DD has had a tremendous run, but I've seen nothing from him that tells me he's the second coming of Patrick Waa and will steal this series.

After two games, he's the second best goalie in this series.

Tonight, IMO, is more of a must-win game for MN than for the Blues. If the Blues win game 3 the pressure begins to mount on the Wild.

I feel an OT game coming soon.
- bcallaway

If the Blues dont win tonight, the Wild win the series imo. Game three winners take the series 70% of the time. The teams are about dead even in pretty much every category. Once again tonights game will come down to who wins the special teams battle. The one area that the Blues controlled was faceoff wins. That is huge, especially on special teams. The Wild need to do a better job of winning the faceoffs, especially in the offensive zone, if they hope to control the game tonight.

If the Blues dont win tonight, the Wild win the series imo. Game three winners take the series 70% of the time. The teams are about dead even in pretty much every category. Once again tonights game will come down to who wins the special teams battle. The one area that the Blues controlled was faceoff wins. That is huge, especially on special teams. The Wild need to do a better job of winning the faceoffs, especially in the offensive zone, if they hope to control the game tonight.
- mnhockeyguy

Did you really think the Wild had much of a chance in the first two periods? I rember two crazy xequences in the first two periods the one off the glass and the jump diving stop by Allen.

The third was pretty much all Wild but the first two I wasnt really worried about the outcome of the game.

You are correct tonight is a huge game for both teams

If the Blues dont win tonight, the Wild win the series imo. Game three winners take the series 70% of the time. The teams are about dead even in pretty much every category. Once again tonights game will come down to who wins the special teams battle. The one area that the Blues controlled was faceoff wins. That is huge, especially on special teams. The Wild need to do a better job of winning the faceoffs, especially in the offensive zone, if they hope to control the game tonight.
- mnhockeyguy

Nah. It's a pivotal game, of course. But even if the Wild win game three, the Blues are still fine. Just means that game 4 becomes a must win game for them.

Personally, I'm now rooting for not only the Blues to win the series, of course, but for it to go a full seven games as we all know how the Blues do after a long layoff.

I'd rather not have to watch them sleep-walk and give away another game 1.

Did you really think the Wild had much of a chance in the first two periods? I rember two crazy xequences in the first two periods the one off the glass and the jump diving stop by Allen.

The third was pretty much all Wild but the first two I wasnt really worried about the outcome of the game.

You are correct tonight is a huge game for both teams
- sycsam

The first half of the first period was all Wild, then they let the Blues physicality get to them and they started trying to hit anything on skates which took them off their game. The Blues got two goals during that span. The Wild outplayed them for stretches of the second and the Blues outplayed the Wild for stretches and then the 3rd was all Wild. So Id say for two periods it was 50/50 and the 3rd was all Wild. The Blues did their damage when the Wild wasn't playing their game in the 1st. The pressure, especially if the Blues lose tonight, is all on St. Louis because of their past post season failures imo.

Just win, baby!

Let's go Blues!

The first half of the first period was all Wild, then they let the Blues physicality get to them and they started trying to hit anything on skates which took them off their game. The Blues got two goals during that span. The Wild outplayed them for stretches of the second and the Blues outplayed the Wild for stretches and then the 3rd was all Wild. So Id say for two periods it was 50/50 and the 3rd was all Wild. The Blues did their damage when the Wild wasn't playing their game in the 1st. The pressure, especially if the Blues lose tonight, is all on St. Louis because of their past post season failures imo.
- mnhockeyguy

I fully expect this to be over Friday as the blues are a very good road team.

I would notbe surprised though if they are playing on the 29th either.

I'm curious to see how Yeo changes his line match ups with the last change. Any thoughts on that, anyone?

Will Yeo try to match Parise, Granlund, and Stewart against the STL line? How soon until the Wild realize that Stewart is a defensive liability?
- eggsegan

I think that was fairly evident before the post season began. He's been pretty much invisible so far offensively and defensively in the series.

In all honesty he's only had a handful of games that he's stood out at all in a Wild sweater.

Clearly Yeo sees something the rest of us don't. He reminds me a lot of Heatley when he was here. If he was around the puck he looked interested, if not he just sort of skated up and down the ice going through the motions.

I think Yeo is in a corner with Stewart now just like he was with Heater. He can't afford to move him down lines or he'll pout and lose interest.

Nah. It's a pivotal game, of course. But even if the Wild win game three, the Blues are still fine. Just means that game 4 becomes a must win game for them.

Personally, I'm now rooting for not only the Blues to win the series, of course, but for it to go a full seven games as we all know how the Blues do after a long layoff.

I'd rather not have to watch them sleep-walk and give away another game 1.
- bcallaway

Coming into the series I was more concerned with the home games than the road games. Coming out of Scottrade with an even series may benefit the Blues. They now have road-ice advantage.

I also think that as long as DD keeps playing average, the Blues should win the series. If he steals one, it may go the other way.

Coming into the series I was more concerned with the home games than the road games. Coming out of Scottrade with an even series may benefit the Blues. They now have road-ice advantage.

I also think that as long as DD keeps playing average, the Blues should win the series. If he steals one, it may go the other way.
- bluenoter

I love how DD said he heard Ott scream in pain like he had his leg broken after thos e completely unnecessary slashes the other night.

Ott clearly is in the head of the Wild

The first half of the first period was all Wild, then they let the Blues physicality get to them and they started trying to hit anything on skates which took them off their game. The Blues got two goals during that span. The Wild outplayed them for stretches of the second and the Blues outplayed the Wild for stretches and then the 3rd was all Wild. So Id say for two periods it was 50/50 and the 3rd was all Wild. The Blues did their damage when the Wild wasn't playing their game in the 1st. The pressure, especially if the Blues lose tonight, is all on St. Louis because of their past post season failures imo.
- mnhockeyguy

I gotta say... This doesn't feel very objective to me. The Blues puck possession game was much better than the Wild in periods one and two.

It wasn't just about hitting...

I'm probably just as much of a homer as the next guy. This feels like a pretty rosy view of the last game for the Wild. Losing a game 3-1 is not close.

Just win, baby!

Let's go Blues!
- carcus

That's it?

That's all you can come up with?

We finally get a blogger who gives us a game day blog and that's all you got.


Sissy.

I think that was fairly evident before the post season began. He's been pretty much invisible so far offensively and defensively in the series.

In all honesty he's only had a handful of games that he's stood out at all in a Wild sweater.

Clearly Yeo sees something the rest of us don't. He reminds me a lot of Heatley when he was here. If he was around the puck he looked interested, if not he just sort of skated up and down the ice going through the motions.

I think Yeo is in a corner with Stewart now just like he was with Heater. He can't afford to move him down lines or he'll pout and lose interest.
- MnGump

I'd like to see Yeo hold him accountable. He can't be playing top line minutes and coasting. poop ain't right. If anything, this is a great opportunity for Coyle to step up and show the Wild he's ready to play with the big boys. Coyle, Granlund, & Parise is a pimp line in my book. Speed to burn. Coyle has to have a big edge to his game though...

I know that puts you in a bind at center. This may sound crazy, but I actually like what Brodziak brings. I'd love to see him as a #3 center and move guys up...

Coming into the series I was more concerned with the home games than the road games. Coming out of Scottrade with an even series may benefit the Blues. They now have road-ice advantage.

I also think that as long as DD keeps playing average, the Blues should win the series. If he steals one, it may go the other way.
- bluenoter

Agree completely. Too many distractions at home, you can play a much simpler, more focused game on the road.

Nothing beats a quiet home crowd filing out of the building.

Just win, baby!

Let's go Blues!
- carcus

Please don't be bringing that Richard Vitale weak sauce up in hur.

I think that was fairly evident before the post season began. He's been pretty much invisible so far offensively and defensively in the series.

In all honesty he's only had a handful of games that he's stood out at all in a Wild sweater.

Clearly Yeo sees something the rest of us don't. He reminds me a lot of Heatley when he was here. If he was around the puck he looked interested, if not he just sort of skated up and down the ice going through the motions.

I think Yeo is in a corner with Stewart now just like he was with Heater. He can't afford to move him down lines or he'll pout and lose interest.
- MnGump

Maybe not, He just may be trying to get something out of him. If he goes out and criticizes his play, he probably realizes he loses him altogether.

He has the mental make up of a teenage girl.

Please don't be bringing that Richard Vitale weak sauce up in hur.
- eggsegan

Seriously? *Richard* Vitale is his name! not Richard.

Maybe not, He just may be trying to get something out of him. If he goes out and criticizes his play, he probably realizes he loses him altogether.

He has the mental make up of a teenage girl.
- bcallaway

Yeah, but what's he getting out of him now?

I gotta say... This doesn't feel very objective to me. The Blues puck possession game was much better than the Wild in periods one and two.

It wasn't just about hitting...

I'm probably just as much of a homer as the next guy. This feels like a pretty rosy view of the last game for the Wild. Losing a game 3-1 is not close.
- eggsegan

Well the only thing that kept it from being tied 2-2 was a slash that broke Scandella's stick, which is an automatic penalty, when he was staring at an open net... which wasn't even called. So I'd say it was a lot closer than the score. If anything I'd say Dubs was the main reason the Wild lost that game. Took a terrible angle on the Tarasenko PP goal and let the soft 3rd goal in when he was squared to the shooter. The two teams have been about dead even as all the stats show, but Allen has been better thus far.

Yeah, but what's he getting out of him now?
- eggsegan

Same as everyone else.

And I hope that trend continues. If he ever figured out how good he could be, he'd be a stud.

Right now, it's like being able to keep a cow pinned in with a corral made of string.

Well the only thing that kept it from being tied 2-2 was a slash that broke Scandella's stick, which is an automatic penalty, when he was staring at an open net... which wasn't even called. So I'd say it was a lot closer than the score. If anything I'd say Dubs was the main reason the Wild lost that game. Took a terrible angle on the Tarasenko PP goal and let the soft 3rd goal in when he was squared to the shooter. The two teams have been about dead even as all the stats show, but Allen has been better thus far.
- mnhockeyguy

You're welcome to talk about the missed penalty calls. I'm pretty sure that all fan bases can do that until the cows come home...

If you look at the replay on that, it wasn't a slash. It was a hook. Scandella's stick broke at his lower glove. Lehtera turned his stick over to keep the blade from coming off the ice. One of the problems of composite sticks these days. Is that a penalty? No.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en...es/2014-2015-rulebook.pdf

"55.1 Hooking - Hooking is the act of using the stick in a manner that
enables a player to restrain an opponent.
When a player is checking another in such a way that there is only
stick-to-stick contact, such action is not to be penalized as hooking."

I agree with you that Allen has been huge for us. That's what you need in the playoffs.

I'd like to see Yeo hold him accountable. He can't be playing top line minutes and coasting. poop ain't right. If anything, this is a great opportunity for Coyle to step up and show the Wild he's ready to play with the big boys. Coyle, Granlund, & Parise is a pimp line in my book. Speed to burn. Coyle has to have a big edge to his game though...

I know that puts you in a bind at center. This may sound crazy, but I actually like what Brodziak brings. I'd love to see him as a #3 center and move guys up...
- eggsegan

No reason to hold him accountable now. Plus none of the other plethora of coaches have been able to hold him accountable and motivate him. Such a shame as he could be a real difference maker in the league.