Wild-Blues series settling in to be a long one

ST. LOUIS – Charlie Coyle took a pass, turned a defender inside-out with a nifty move and rifled a shot that caught the crossbar.

The puck ricocheted off the bar, hit Blues goalie Jake Allen in the rear end and began sliding backward for what looked like one of those classic goofy goals.

But at the last second, with the puck a whisker from the line, Blues captain David Backes lunged and flicked it out of harm's way, saving a game-tying goal in the third period.

"Good play by them to keep it out," Coyle said, "but we've got to bury those."

If Backes was a fraction slower, different story, but that singular play told the story of Game 2 far better than the final score: St. Louis Blues 4, Wild 1.

The Wild didn't play poorly; the Blues just played slightly better and took advantage of a few mistakes and fortunate bounces.

Two games, two different outcomes, but the Wild should return home feeling reasonably encouraged by the tone of this first-round series.

Let's be clear, a loss isn't something to celebrate. The Wild could've done more, between failed scoring chances and brick wall Devan Dunbyk surrendering a rare bad goal.

But the Wild gave itself a chance to win. The team generated scoring opportunities, kept pushing the pace and withstood the Blues' best punch in the first period.

The Wild didn't look content or satisfied after winning Game 1. That was a good sign. The Blues just made more plays in a game that felt even more intense and testy than Game 1.

"Listen, we would have loved to win both games in here," coach Mike Yeo said. "But I think we can take some confidence out of the fact that we won the one game and played pretty strong in the second game."

This is starting to feel like a series that will last seven games. The teams are so evenly matched that it will be difficult for either one of them to run away with this thing.

The nastiness probably will multiply as the series goes along.

The Wild showed in both games at Scottrade Center that it's very much up to the task, whether the game is played fast or physical.

"We're fine in here," Dubnyk said. "It would have been nice to go back 2-0, but we're comfortable with how we're playing. We know we've got another level as well. We'll go back home and feel good about ourselves."

The difference between the teams is so paper thin that any mistake can become killer. The Wild saw that in Game 2.

None was more glaring than Dubnyk's second goal allowed on a bad-angle shot by Vladimir Tarasenko on a power play late in the first period.

"That's a mistake by me," Dubnyk said.

The Wild didn't wobble or fall apart, though. Didn't get run out of the building, which looked like a possibility after that first period.

Instead, the Wild settled in and had chances until a decisive goal with two minutes left.

Ultimately, too many missed scoring chances and too many turnovers doomed the Wild. Give credit also to Allen, who was fabulous in outdueling Dunbyk.

"We had chances," Coyle said. "Obviously didn't bury them."

All in all, that's a good start to a series that feels like it's just getting warmed up.