Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk proved worthy of his Vezina Trophy nomination on Friday, backstopping his team to a 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues in Game 5 to give the Wild a 3-2 series lead.
Wild vs. Blues 2015 final score: 3 things we learned from Minnesota’s 4-1 win
Devan Dubnyk was the difference again.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier in the day, Dubnyk was announced as a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender. It’s one thing to receive the honor, and another thing to back it up a few hours later. Dubnyk stopped (SAVES) shots in the win.
The only one he didn't stop was from the one guy the Wild can't seem to slow down. Vladimir Tarasenko scored his sixth goal of the series in the first period, firing a wrist shot past Dubnyk to give the Blues an early 1-0 lead.
But from that point on, the Wild took over. Goals from Marco Scandella, Nino Niederreiter and Mikko Koivu gave Minnesota the breathing room it needed as the Blues continually outshot them. Dubnyk's play in net turned out to be the difference, and the Wild return home to St. Paul on Sunday with a chance to advance to the second round.
3 Things We Learned
1. Vladimir Tarasenko has a knack for this whole “playoffs” thing.
With his first period strike in Game 5, Tarasenko has six goals on nine shots in the playoffs so far and 10 goals in 11 career playoff games. The “small sample” argument is starting to fade away; Tarasenko is perhaps the most dangerous player in the playoffs these days.
2. Zach Parise has some serious upper body strength.
great effort by Parise, Allen makes the save pic.twitter.com/IGIJM5TJM5
— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) April 25, 2015 3. St. Louis squandered home ice.
A win in Game 4 meant the Blues held an advantage with the next game at home. All they had to do was take that advantage, run with it and earn at least two chances to eliminate the Wild. Instead, St. Louis now faces a tall task, beginning with an elimination Game 6 in St. Paul just to stay alive.
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