Wild want same effort, better outcome in Game 2
Minnesota focused on matching level of play in series opener despite OT loss to Blues
by Jessi Pierce / NHL.com Correspondent
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild liked almost everything about their performance in Game 1 of their Western Conference First Round series against the St. Louis Blues except the outcome.
The Wild are convinced that if they can replicate it throughout the best-of-7 series, beginning in Game 2 on Friday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN360, TVA Sports 3, FS-N, FS-MW), there will be little cause for concern
The Wild dominated play and took 52 shots on Blues goaltender Jake Allen in the series opener, but Allen made 51 saves before defenseman Joel Edmundson scored at 17:48 of overtime to give St. Louis a 2-1 win.
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"We're not looking ahead, we're just looking at tomorrow saying, you know, if we keep playing that way [we played Wednesday], we're going to put more pucks in and it's going to come for us," Wild forward Charlie Coyle said after a light practice Thursday. "That's all our focus is, just that next one; do what we can to be the best and play at our best."
Allen was 23 seconds away from a shutout before Zach Parise scored to send the game into overtime. The Wild are convinced that if they keep firing away, a few more shots will find the back of the net.
"We're just going to continue to do what we do," forward Eric Staal said. "I think we're going to get some breaks around the net. [Allen] made some good saves. He played well. I think if we continue to do what we do, get around that net, play the way we can, we're going to get something, for sure."
Video: STL@MIN, Gm1: Parise nets tic-tac-toe play, ties game
The Wild are 2-10 in Game 1 of a playoff series; they are 2-9 in Game 2.
Coach Bruce Boudreau said he wants them to focus on the short-term goal: Winning on Friday.
"The key [in Game 2] is not to let [the team] get too down. I do think we played a pretty good game [on Wednesday]," Boudreau said. "When you're looking at a potential seven-game series, you're not looking at, 'Uh-oh, there's only three more games left.' I think if we play that way and 10 percent better, then I think the results will be a little bit different. And we've all looked at the way we've played these guys all year. They've been pretty close games, so we anticipate a long series."