{"id":128498,"date":"2022-05-08T15:51:10","date_gmt":"2022-05-08T19:51:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=128498"},"modified":"2022-05-08T15:51:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-08T19:51:10","slug":"kirill-kaprizov-shines-as-wild-take-2-1-series-lead-vs-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2022\/05\/08\/kirill-kaprizov-shines-as-wild-take-2-1-series-lead-vs-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Kirill Kaprizov Shines as Wild Take 2-1 Series Lead vs Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who would’ve thought the two hottest teams in the NHL would play such a lopsided series? The Minnesota Wild<\/a> lead their First Round series vs the Blues 2-1 after back-to-back blowout wins, outscoring the St. Louis Blues<\/a> 11-3 in Games 2 and 3. What was supposed to be a close, tight, and low-scoring series has been one of the most one-sided matchups of the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Kirill Kaprizov Shines As Wild Hold Series Lead vs Blues<\/h2>\n

Minnesota Wild Offense<\/h3>\n

The offence for the Wild has been on fire since their scoreless efforts in Game 1 when they were shut out 4-0 at home by the Ville Husso<\/a>-led Blues. Kirill Kaprizov<\/a>, who only had two points in eight playoff games, finally got his feet wet and played the type of playoff hockey he is getting paid to do. He scored a hat trick in Game 2 and then scored one of the weirdest breakaway goals in Game 3 on Friday night. Joel Eriksson Ek<\/a> has stepped onto the scene and is playing like a true Selke contender. The best shutdown forward of the series so far also has three goals and two assists for five points in three games.<\/p>\n

The Wild couldn’t get lucky during Game 1, hitting five posts. On the other end of a 37-save shutout by Ville Husso, fans on both sides thought this would be a quick series. The Wild proved that to be false, gaining 4-0 leads on the Blues at the start of the next two games. With the Blues losing defensemen to injuries, it’ll be interesting to see the rest of the series play out and how the offence for Minnesota continues to push.<\/p>\n

St. Louis Thin on the Blueline<\/h3>\n

The St. Louis Blues completely shut down the Minnesota Wild in Game 1 behind a great defensive performance. During the game though, Blues defenseman Nick Leddy<\/a> received a hit from Wild forward Matt Boldy and suffered an upper-body injury that has kept him out since. Robert Bortuzzo<\/a> took a wrist shot to the side of the head on the penalty kill in Game 2 and left the game with an upper-body injury as well. This forced the Blues to play with a young blue line, and they got exposed badly; giving up multiple odd-man rushes and breakaways. In the third game on Friday night, Blues defenseman Torey Krug<\/a> tried to take a run at Matt Boldy<\/a> and ended up hurting his leg, he will be out the remainder of the series<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Blues recently got Marco Scandella<\/a> back and hope Leddy and Bortuzzo can make a quick return before the series gets ugly.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>