Blues score late to tie, win in a shootout over Wild

Just 24 hours earlier Wild defenseman Ryan Suter said it couldn't happen. And then it did.

Suter's turnover in the Wild end led directly to David Backes' rifle of a wrist shot that tied the score with just 5 minutes, 33 seconds left after the Wild spent much time getting the better of the play.

Then, after a scoreless overtime, Vladimir Tarasenko's shootout goal pushed St. Louis to a 3-2 victory at Xcel Energy Center.

"I said last game we had to protect the puck," Suter said. "And I didn't protect the puck and it ended up in the back of the net.''

The Wild outshot the Blues 38-26, had the edge in scoring chances and matched the physical Blues hit for hit much of the game. And there were a few hits, on both sides. Wild defenseman Marco Scandella, fresh off signing a five-year contract, checked T.J. Oshie in the head in the first period, a hit that might merit review by the league. In the second, Blues winger Ryan Reaves hit Erik Haula from behind. And then, in what might have been a game-turning play, Kevin Shattenkirk was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for knocking Wild forward Ryan Carter into the boards headfirst.

With less than a minute left in the period, Zach Parise's slapshot went off Blues defenseman Ian Cole and past goalie Jake Allen.

It remained that way until Suter's turnover resulted in a tie game.

Instead the Wild lost its first game in the division and lost for the 10th time in 11 games vs. St. Louis. This despite a strong performance from Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and Mikko Koivu's goal — his first this month — that tied the score 1-1 earlier in the second period.

Backstrom stopped both Oshie and Alexander Steen before Tarasenko — who scored the Blues' first goal — won it.

"I would have liked to see our guys get rewarded with two points," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "I'm more pleased with how we played than disappointed we didn't get two.''

Both teams were playing on the back end of consecutive nights. The Wild was ending a stretch of six games in 10 days, one that had taken it from Philadelphia to Florida to the Twin Cities and down to Dallas, where it won in overtime Friday.

Though the Wild carried the play much of the game, there is no question the Blues applied pressure in the final period. The Wild was able to hold St. Louis off until Suter fell along the boards and ended up giving up the puck.

Twitter: @BloodStrib