Game Notes: Game 1 at Wild

The Blues are facing the Wild for just the second time in the postseason. The Blues went 3-2-0 vs. the Wild in the regular season, including one shootout win. Vladimir Tarasenko led the Blues with three goals against the Wild while Jaden Schwartz paced the team with four points overall (two goals, two assists). St. Louis will look to continue their road momentum. They finished the regular season by winning 17 of their last 24 road games, including a league-best plus-27 road goal differential during that span.

What to Watch

The last time these two teams met in the postseason, Vladimir Tarasenko was lethal, scoring six times on just 14 shots (42.9 percent). Tarasenko has logged 19 goals in 33 career playoff games for a 0.58 goals per game average that leads all active players. Tarasenko finished the 2016-17 regular season with 39 goals - tied for fourth overall.

Blues Playoff History

• 2017 marks the Blues' 41st postseason appearance - the most among all 1967 expansion franchises
• Last season, the Blues advanced to the Conference Final for the first time since 2001
• The Blues made a franchise record 25 consecutive playoff appearances from 1980 to 2004
• The Blues appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals in each of their first three seasons (1968-70)

Blues Career Playoff Leaders (current Blues)

Goals
Vladimir Tarasenko, 19
Paul Stastny, 12
Patrik Berglund, 10
Alexander Steen, 10
Assists
Paul Stastny, 20
Alex Pietrangelo, 18
Jaden Schwartz, 15
Points
Paul Stastny, 32
Vladimir Tarasenko, 26
Alexander Steen, 24

Blues Playoff Streaking

Longest Active Playoff Streaks, NHL
11: Pittsburgh Penguins (since 2006-07)
9: Chicago Blackhawks (since 2008-09)
7: New York Rangers (since 2010-11)
6: St. Louis Blues (since 2011-12)

Quick Hits

• The Blues and Wild combined for just two power-play goals (one each) on 24 total attempts during their regular season series
• During the regular season series, the Blues registered 33 takeaways compared to just eight giveaways vs. the Wild
• Jake Allen made four starts vs. the Wild this season, posting a 3-1-0 record, a 1.97 goals-against average and a .927 save-percentage
• Prior to the advent of the Wild, the Blues faced the Minnesota North Stars nine times in the postseason
• The Blues won four of their final six road games in the 2016 postseason

50th Anniversary Throwback Note

On this day in 1994, Brendan Shanahan scored his fourth hat trick of the season (and the sixth of his career), which gave him 50 goals for the second straight year, as the Blues lost 9-5 to the Stars at Dallas. Shanahan also got his 100th point of the season.