For the seventh straight season, the Wild failed to advance to the first round of the playoffs. The Minnesota team lost 5-1 to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at Enterprise Center, losing the flag in six games.
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The Blues will face the Colorado Avalanche in the conference semifinals.
Head coach Dean Evason’s decision to award his net to Cam Talbot, after Marc-André Fleury had played the first five games of the playoffs, did not bear fruit. The Ontario keeper allowed 1 goal in 26 shots.
Ryan O’Reilly, Tyler Bozak and Vladimir Tarasenko all cheated on him in the middle period.
Nick Leddy and Colton Parayko also hit the mark for the Blues.
Matt Dumba threaded the needle for the Wild.
Jordan Binnington, who recently became the winningest postseason goaltender in St. Louis team history, was solid with 25 saves.