Bruins vs Red Wings

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Louis Blues said they understood what they would be facing against the Minnesota Wild in their Western Conference First Round series.

But after the Wild won Game 3 on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, the Blues face a virtual must-win situation in Game 4 on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports 3, FS-MW, FS-N).

The Wild's speed game has given the Blues fits throughout this series. It again played a role Monday in Minnesota's 3-0 victory in front of 19,165 boisterous fans at Xcel Energy Center.

The Blues had no answer for wave after wave of speed and checking that the Wild threw at them.

"They played a good game from the start," St. Louis defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk said. "We were slow from the start, and they just stayed on top of us the whole game."

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk has done a lot of things during his hockey career. One thing he hasn't: played in a Stanley Cup Playoff game.

That will change Thursday when Dubnyk starts for the Wild against the St. Louis Blues in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series at Scottrade Center (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports 3, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-MW).

It's a game that has been a long time coming for Dubnyk, who has played in 231 NHL games since entering the League in 2009, including 39 with the Wild since being acquired in a trade from the Arizona Coyotes on Jan. 14.

The Wild were in 12th place in the Western Conference at the time of the trade, but a 27-9-2 stretch helped catapult the Wild to the top wild card.

Dubnyk will see what playoff hockey is like for the first time since six games with the Stockton Thunder in the ECHL playoffs in 2007.

"It's great, but you try not to think about it too much during the last stretch," Dubnyk said. "I've tried to embrace it a little bit this week, but at the same time, I think the most important thing is to just keep the same approach that we've had all year."

HAZELWOOD, Mo. -- Jake Allen was named as the St. Louis Blues' starting goaltender for Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round Series on Thursday against the Minnesota Wild (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports 3, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-MW).

The 24-year-old, who has 1:07 of experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a relief appearance in Game 2 of the 2012 Western Conference Second Round against the Los Angeles Kings, has been in a strong 1-2 tandem with veteran Brian Elliott all season.

But Allen's play of late -- he was 5-1-1 in his past seven starts with a 1.14 goals-against average and .957 save percentage -- was a deciding factor for Blues coach Ken Hitchcock. Allen has given up two goals or fewer in his past seven starts and one goal or fewer in eight of his past 12.

"It’s his turn," Hitchcock said. "Both guys earned our healthy respect. We made the decision to go with Jake. He's going to play in Game 1.

"Jake got really hot down the stretch, which was good for us because we needed it. Just his overall development and the way he played in the last month, we want to give him a chance to go in the playoffs. Both guys earned the right to play in the playoffs, both guys need to stay sharp."

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Preparing for another Stanley Cup Playoff series is something Jason Zucker couldn't have imagined two months ago.

Instead, the Minnesota Wild forward will be a critical player when they play the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference First Round. Game 1 is at Scottrade Center on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA, SN360, FS-N, FS-WI, FS-MW).

After fracturing his clavicle in a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Feb. 9, and a surgical procedure to repair the damage a few days later, the prognosis for a return was 12 weeks. Even in the best-case scenario, Zucker might have returned in time for the second round of the playoffs.

"I didn't know if I was going to be playing at all this year," Zucker said. "At first I was thinking about summer plans, what I was going to do for training and rehab and stuff like that, but the training staff did a great job getting me back and healthy as quick as they could."

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock has kept everyone guessing regarding his starting goalie for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA, SN360, FS-N, FW-MW, FS-WI).

The veteran coach continued the guessing game Monday, but judging by Hitchcock's comments after practice, veteran Brian Elliott may have the slight edge over Jake Allen as to who starts Game 1 at Scottrade Center.

Elliott, who made 23 saves to defeat the Wild 4-2 in the regular-season finale on Saturday, is 7-2-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average and .895 save percentage with two shutouts against Minnesota. He was 6-0-0 against the Wild before back-to-back losses against them, 3-1 on March 14 and 6-3 on March 21.

Allen, who is 4-1-1 overall in his past six starts, is 1-0-0 with a 2.38 GAA and .920 save percentage in two appearances (one start) against the Wild.

ST. LOUIS -- Their first conversations were brief, first on the floor of Staples Center in Los Angeles at the 2010 NHL Draft, and then again at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

A handshake was exchanged after Russia defeated Canada in the gold-medal game, with Vladimir Tarasenko telling Jaden Schwartz at the time, "See you in St. Louis."

It was the beginning of what has turned into satisfying starts to promising careers for Schwartz, 22, and Tarasenko, 23, each first-round picks by the St. Louis Blues.

"It goes by fast," Schwartz said. "It's hard to believe it's been that long. You go to college for two years, then you're with the Blues; it all just happens fast.

"When I first came in I didn't know where I'd fit in. Obviously we had a really good team when I came in and I wasn't playing as much. I had to work my way up and earn it. That's what a lot of guys have to do. Once you start playing more you realize you can play at this level. You want to contribute and be a big part of the team."

The Minnesota Wild season can be divided into two parts: pre-Dubnyk and post-Dubnyk.

Shaky goaltending had the Wild struggling before general manager Chuck Fletcher acquired Devan Dubnyk, a backup with the Arizona Coyotes, on Jan. 14 in a trade for a third-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. With Dubnyk turning in brilliant work on an every-night basis, the Wild quickly rose from being 13th in the Western Conference, eight points out of a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, to a playoff team that will win it all.

Suffice it to say that acquiring Dubnyk might be the best deal Fletcher ever makes. It certainly saved the Wild's season.

The St. Louis Blues are doing it the other way around this time, but winning in the Western Conference First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs won't be any easier as a result.

The Blues finished the regular season winning five of their final six games to climb into first place in the Central Division. It was a near 180 from last season, when they lost their last six games and fell out of first place and into a first-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The reward for winning isn't much better than the price for losing was last season because the Minnesota Wild have been the best team in the NHL since Jan. 15.

The Wild are the first wild card from the Western Conference after going 28-9-3 since goalie Devan Dubnyk made his Minnesota debut on that date. Minnesota was eight points out of a playoff spot when Dubnyk debuted; they finished with a five-point cushion.

The Wild, who had 100 points for the second time in their history, were first in points among Western Conference teams with 59 from Jan. 15 through the end of the season.

Despite high expectations and strong regular seasons, the Blues have not advanced past the first round in each of the past two seasons and haven't gone past the second round since coach Ken Hitchcock was hired early in the 2011-12 season.

St. Louis' past two series losses followed the same script: The Blues won the first two games and then lost the next four to teams (Los Angeles Kings in 2013 and Blackhawks in 2014) that eventually lost in the Western Conference Final.

ST. LOUIS -- Center Paul Stastny was the hottest free agent commodity at his position last summer because he was viewed as a player who could add instant offense.

After losing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to teams with more depth at center each of the past three seasons, the St. Louis Blues signed Stastny to a four-year, $28 million contract July 1 because they felt he would even the playing field. They needed a playmaking center, one who could help them match up against some of the Western Conference's best down the middle.

The 29-year-old, who finished with 16 goals and 46 points in 74 games this season, fit the bill.

The numbers may not indicate it, but the Blues have that experienced center they can use in all situations.

"I want to be out there. I'm not afraid to fail," said Stastny, whose father, Peter Stastny, finished his Hall of Fame career in St. Louis. "I think that's the most important thing. ... You want to be the guy that's a game-changer. Sometimes it won't go your way; it doesn't matter. As long as you go out there with that mentality where you know you're going to be a difference-maker, that's what you want."

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- When Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle isn’t playing the way he’s supposed to, he knows he’s going to hear it from his coach.

That coach? His dad, Chuck, sitting on his couch back home in East Weymouth, Mass.

"He was my coach every team I played for up until high school," Coyle said. "Even now, he’s still my coach. I talk to him after every game. He likes to keep his distance and let me do my thing, but he likes to pitch in and I like it when he does. He knows the game, he watches every game and he sees what I’m doing out there. He helps me a lot."

When Coyle is at his best, he plays a grinding, physical style that suits his 6-foot-3 frame. That’s not to say he isn’t skilled. His goal on Jan. 27 against the Edmonton Oilers, when he raced down the left wall, around a defenseman and past the goaltender, only to reach back and tuck it inside the post from behind the net is one of the impressive goals scored all season.

But it all starts with physicality. If he’s using his body, the rest seems to fall into place.

"For some reason, when I do that, I just get engaged in the game," Coyle said. "Everything picks up after that."