WCQF: CEN(2) Minnesota Wild vs CEN(3) St. Louis Blues | STL wins 4-2

[Lanny_McDonald]

Blues in six. Experience matters and I just don't think Minnesota has the horses or the experience to take down the Blues.

[keenan87]

I think this is definitely the closest series in round 1. I think the Blues will take it in 7. For the Flames sake, I am just glad one of these teams will be out after the first round.

[Toonage]

Toughest of the series to call IMO

MAF ends up being the difference.

Wild in 7

[Hockey_Ninja]

This one is gonna be close. I’ll go with the Wild in 7

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Wild in 4. They're much better than people want to give them credit for, and have two very good goalies now. Kaprizov is an absolute game breaker. Blues are good, but I just haven't seen them as a really elite team since their cup run. Wild are turning into what the Blues were that year.

See, I think this could end up actually costing Minnesota. Both goalies have pretty much split the month of April, and Talbot's numbers look really good heading in to the playoffs. But if the temptation is there to start him in Game #1, I have very little confidence that he could win four against St Louis. And then if he loses two and they feel they need to make a switch, I think the series is probably over for them.

On the other side of this, St Louis has looked as good this season as they did their Cup year, and for a couple of months now have been playing the kind of hockey that wins in the playoffs. They are far from sexy, but probably one of the toughest teams in the tournament.

I think Blues in six.


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[DoubleK]

This is going to be a war.

Blues in 6.

[Oil Stain]

Blues in six.

They had 9!!! 20+ goal scorers this season.

Their offensive depth is just crazy.

The Wild are a good team as well, but if you think depth wins in the playoffs then the Blues are a strong dark horse to go all the way.

[Erick Estrada]

This one should be good but I'm taking the Blues in 6 because they have owned the Wild this season.

[Press Level]

The rest of the Western Conference are just happy that one of these teams will be gone in the first round.


Minnesota in 7.

[d_phaneuf]

Biggest special teams mismatch of the 1st round

Panthers were -10 goals combined on special teams, blues were +30

[cannon7]

Just glad one of these teams is knocking the other out in the west.

[EVERLAST]

Big Talbot fan here. Wild win this one. Also really like Dean Evason....he's a really good guy.
I think the wild are this years dark horse.

[Sylvanfan]

Tough call here. I would have had St.Louis all day until the Fleury trade. But that shifts the goaltending back to Minny. If Husso can get it done, the Blues might just make the cup. Best series of round 1.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

Big Talbot fan here. Wild win this one. Also really like Dean Evason....he's a really good guy.
I think the wild are this years dark horse.

Except they really shouldn’t be. Finished with a better record than Calgary and are legitimately one of the best teams in the NHL. I foresee a Wild Avalanche round 2 and Minny taking it. Legit scary team and nobody talks about them. No respect for an incredible Wild season.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Except they really shouldn’t be. Finished with a better record than Calgary and are legitimately one of the best teams in the NHL. I foresee a Wild Avalanche round 2 and Minny taking it. Legit scary team and nobody talks about them. No respect for an incredible Wild season.

I think Calgary fans have a skewed view of them. We beat them pretty handily back to back, them lost to them in OT.

[FlamesAddiction]

I would pick St. Louis.

We talk about Edmonton benefiting from 3-on-3 and shootouts, but the Wild have benefited even more so.

53 wins this season with 16 of them being from 3-on-3 or the shootout. That accounts for about 30% of their victories.

[Enoch Root]

Should be a massive battle. Minny is the most under-rated team in the league, IMO. I think they prevail in a long, grueling series

[dammage79]

I got the Wild in 7. One more PO win for MA Fleury before he rides off into the sunset.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Should be a massive battle. Minny is the most under-rated team in the league, IMO. I think they prevail in a long, grueling series

It is interesting, because I have St Louis as the most under-rated team.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

It is interesting, because I have St Louis as the most under-rated team.

That is interesting. Wrong, but interesting.