St. Louis Blues At Minnesota Wild Final Score: Blues' Listless Play And Turnovers Lead To 2-1 Loss

Blessedly, the last period was free of goals against the Blues. Blessedly, because they gave the Wild more than enough chances to score courtesy of listless play and a myriad of turnovers at the top of the Blues’ own zone. Their inability to clear the zone – not just with pressure, but at all – hindered the Blues. Halak played well all night, but the goal support wasn’t there to back him up.

Jamie Langenbrunner scored the Blues’ only goal of the night, his first as a Blue, by being close enough to Harding to tap in a rebound stick-side on the seemingly impenetrable Wild goaltender. One goal was nice, but forcing OT would have been better. The Blues need to stop choosing times when they play hard – the last minute of the game isn’t the most opportune time to select. The whole game would be more appropriate.

Halak stopped 24 of 26 shots, while Harding stopped 30 of 31 tonight. The Blues next play Tuesday night against the Blackhawks; they are also honoring Igor Korolev and Pavol Demitra that evening.

St. Louis Blues At Minnesota Wild: Sloppy Play And Turnovers Give Wild 2-0 Lead

Sloppy play and turnovers were the special du jour in this second period, apparently, as the Blues show that they can’t complete a 60 minute game without taking a 20 minute break. Dany Heatley scored the first of the period, capitalizing on sloppy Blues passing. Alex Pietrangelo gave the puck directly over to Guillaume Latendresse, who promptly backhand flipped it right past Halak.

Halak, however, kept the Blues in the game during the second period, considering the turnovers and lack of concentration helped the Wild take nine shots that period, most of which were up close and personal. Halak seems to do better with the in-close shots, but the shots where he needs to get in position to block a shot from further out.

The couple of end-of-period scrums signaled some frustration by the Blues, though chances are good that they’re not frustrated with the Wild, but rather with themselves. Instead of channeling that frustration into physicality of the roughing kind, perhaps they should channel it into effective shot choices. The Blues had 13 shots on goal that period, but the scoring chances would have been much higher – and much more converted on – if the team had either aimed or picked their spots better.

St. Louis Blues At Minnesota Wild: After The First Period, Score Knotted At Zero

The Wild are known traditionally for two things: their not-so-explosive offense and their clamping defense. Both are on display so far tonight, as the Blues and Wild each got five shots on goal off with none going in. Not too much to report, other than the penalty kill is one-for-one. A phantom hooking call on Carlo Colaiacovo led to the Minnesota power play, but their PP is nearly as neutered as the Blues’ is.

Halak has looked ok after one period, but considering he’s faced five shots on goal, he should look ok. The Blues should have a solid second period based on how hard they’ve played – tough checking from the Blues is putting the Wild on edge. Hopefully the banging momentum translates into goals in the second.

St. Louis Blues At Minnesota Wild: Blues Not The Only Team With Goaltender Intrigue

The Blues jet off to Minnesota to face off against the Wild in their second game in two nights. Can David Backes and T.J. Oshie continue their solid play, and will it rub off on the rest of the top six?