Vladimir Tarasenko scored a pair of goals in the first period and added an empty-netter as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-1 in Game 2 to tie their first-round series at one game apiece.
Star Performer: Tarasenko opened the scoring early in the game, then followed with a power-play goal less than five minutes later to give the Blues a 2-0 lead. His empty-net marker with 17 seconds remaining put the game out of reach.
Turning Point: With the Blues clinging to a 2-1 lead in the third period, captain David Backes made a spectacular stick save to prevent the tying goal when the puck ended up behind goaltender Jake Allen.
Goalie Comparison:
Allen was virtually unbeatable, while Devan Dubnyk was beaten three times by Tarasenko:
| Goalie | Shots | GA | Saves | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubnyk | 26 | 3 | 23 | .885 |
| Allen | 25 | 1 | 24 | .960 |
Top Highlight: Tarasenko's first goal of the game was his best, as he redirected an Alex Steen shot to give the Blues the opening goal.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
Stat of the Night: Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk assisted on the team's first four goals of the series, including Tarasenko's first two markers on Saturday, as pointed out by KTRS 550's Andy Strickland.
Series at a Glance:
Game 1: Wild 4, Blues 2
Game 2: Blues 4, Wild 1
Game 3: Monday, April 20, 8 p.m. ET
Game 4: Wednesday, April 22, 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 5: Friday, April 24, TBA
Game 6*: Sunday, April 26, TBA
Game 7*: Wednesday, April 29, TBA
*If necessary
