I thought the Wild played well in both games in St. Louis, minus a few hiccups that didn't hurt them in game 1, but did in game 2. The series is shaping up to be the close battle that everyone predicted it to be.
So now the series is in Minnesota and it's on the Wild to hold onto home-ice advantage. Generally the Wild have been good at home under Mike Yeo in the playoffs (6-2 record in the last two playoff years), but the home record hasn't been exactly spectacular as the season finished.
The historical pessimism corner:
The Wild have never finished a home game with a series lead in franchise history.
The Wild are 9-15 in games following a playoff loss in their history.
The Wild are 10-17 in playoff games played in arenas where I have attended a hockey game.
Historical pessimism worked so well last time, so here's a few more nuggets.
The Minnesota Wild have only ever held a lead in a playoff series twice.
Once in 2003 when they won game 1 to lead 1-0 against the Avalanche. They lost the next three games.
Once in 2008 when they won game 3 to lead 2-1 against the Avalanche. They lost the next three games.
The Minnesota Wild have never played a home playoff game where they entered the game with a series lead. (In actuality, they've never finished a home playoff game with a series lead, but that's a nugget for later in the series, I think)
Game 1 was a good game for the Wild, they just need to do that again.
The Minnesota Wild are 1-7 in games 1 of playoff series in franchise history (they've lost 7 in a row).
The Minnesota Wild are 8-18 in road playoff games in franchise history (they've lost 11 of their last 12).
The Minnesota Wild have never beat the St. Louis Blues in a playoff game in franchise history.
The Minnesota Wild are 7-18 in playoff games on days where the Twins won a baseball game (they are 11-11 if the Twins don't win or don't play)
OK, enough history.
I don't know what I think about this series, to be honest with you. The Wild are certainly capable of beating the Blues, but I would say that it wouldn't take much for the Blues to beat the Wild as well.
Looking around I see a lot of people saying this series is too close to call and then picking the Blues. The Wild have the advantage in goaltending and the penalty kill, but their power play just doesn't contribute and I can see that being a potential huge problem if the Blues find a way to get their own special teams rolling.
Still, if the goal totals stay low, I like the Wild's chances.
Either way, it's playoff hockey and therefore awesome. Here we go!
