Some close calls for Wild, but St. Louis ties series 1-1

ST. LOUIS – From the moment the lineups showed that Ken Hitchcock was starting built-like-a-tank bruiser Ryan Reaves on the left side of David Backes and T.J. Oshie, it was clear the tone would be different in Game 2 between the Wild and St. Louis Blues than in Game 1.

The Blues tried to flex their muscles Saturday. Reaves threw his weight around and Steve Ott was at his agitating best, taking big runs, slashing guys, cross-checking Mikko Koivu on the back of the neck and taunting Jason Zucker by petting him on the helmet.

But as Backes himself said, the Wild "didn't back down by any means."

No, the Wild lost to St. Louis 4-1 and saw the best-of-seven series even up because Russian phenom Vladimir Tarasenko registered the first hat trick against the Wild in its playoff history and because the Wild somehow had three pucks stop right at or on — but not over — the goal line.

"A couple of them that on any other day hopefully go in for us. Just not today," said Zach Parise, who took four shots and was notably physical with six hits.

The final might have been 4-1, but Wild coach Mike Yeo thought his team had plenty of chances to score, saying, "I don't think we played a one-goal game."

The Blues built a 2-0 first-period lead, the second coming on Tarasenko's second goal that Devan Dubnyk cheated to his left on and lost the post in anticipation of Tarasenko going cross-crease with a pass.

"That's a mistake by me. It's not a good goal," Dubnyk said. "I came off my post on a guy that likes to shoot, who's got a pretty good shot and he made me pay for it."

But the Wild generated plenty of chances in the second and third periods. On one second-period power play, a Ryan Suter dump-in hit a stanchion and took a sudden left turn toward the net with goalie Jake Allen having no clue.

"It bounced, hit my left pad, hit my right skate, and then I turned around and honestly, just saw it and tried to pounce on it," Allen said.

Later, off a 2-on-1, Zucker whipped a shot wide of the net. The rebound landed on Koivu's stick at a bad angle with the net open. Koivu shot, the puck got by a sliding Oshie but a sprawling Allen made the save.

"Me and [Jaden Schwartz] both got a piece of it," Allen said.

"I'll … buy him a beer for that one," Allen said.

Said Backes: "It's pure instinct and you can't think. If you think, it's too late and it's in the back of the net."

Coyle just shook his head.

"So many chances on our part. We have to bury those," he said. "That's what it came down to. They buried theirs. We were right there with them. It wasn't like they took over at any point. We played a solid game. Just those chances we have to bury."

With the Wild wanting to pull Dubnyk for an extra attacker, Jordan Schroeder coughed a loose puck up to Patrik Berglund. He took off with speed and buried the dagger past Dubnyk with 1:58 left. Later, Tarasenko scored his third into that empty net, capping a fine game for a star that was held shotless in Game 1.

"They came out physical, and we matched it if not better," Coyle said. "We're in a good position. It's a tied series right now, going back home [Monday]. We'll take that."

Added Hitchcock: "We took a big step. Now we've got to go steal a game."