ST. PAUL - Vladimir Tarasenko scored a par for the St. Louis Blues hat trick just in time to give the Minnesota Wild serious problems.
Since then, Tarasenko has tried to sidestep the significance of his adventure by focusing solely on the player who played a key role in the Stanley Cup three years ago.
Tarasenko started the game with three goals in the third half and the Blues put the Wild on the verge of a 5-2 win on Tuesday night.
"It just came to our knowledge at that time. The most important thing is that we win the game and move on to the next game," said Tarasenko, who scored one goal in the first four games.
Ryan O'Reilly scored for the fourth time in the series and Brendon Saad equalized late in the second half as Blues Wild star Kirill Caprizov's impeccable play improved. Whatever the rivalry between the two Russians, Tarasenko did not participate.
Caprizev revived the building early in the night with two goals in the first half of a slow previous game at Minnesota - the puck was at 8:50 p.m. local time. Caprizov has scored seven play-off goals, the most in a Wild series.
In the Wild Power Play, 19 = 4, when Kaprizov has three goals.
The series returns to St. Louis Thursday night for Game 6. If the Blues win, Game 7 goes to Minnesota on Saturday. The Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predator Rookie, is in the second round.
Including this year, there are 277 best seven playoff games in NHL history, tied in both games. The Game 5 winner has won the series 219 times, with a whopping .791 winning percentage.
"I have great faith in our team. Now is not the time to hit the ground running. It's time to dump it and move on."
Jordan Binnington saved 30 for his second straight victory, next season's victory of his 18th career, a franchise record.
Blues manager Craig Berbe said: "He's got a lot of momentum today and he's played very well for them. He's a very calm and composed client."
Pavel Buknevich beat Jacob Middleton into Mark-Andre Flurry's net and put Tarasenko ahead 63 seconds into the second half.
Tarasenko, who came back strong with 34 goals in 2021/22 after several seasons with injuries, gave the Blues a two-goal lead with just over 1:28 from a wrist shot. The remaining 1:33 hit the empty door.
Closing out 27 strikes, Fleury said: "I like our chances after two, a tie." “We had a great third time all season. They push very hard to create any opportunity and bury them. I want to save them all, don't I?
The Blues also had a much more solid finish.
"Our third period was like an introduction," Saad said. "We got better as the game went on."
The Blues strengthened the blue line by dismissing Robert Bortuzzo and Nick Ladini from head injuries that kept them out of their two games in St. Louis, although defenders Tori Krug and Marco Scandella were again absent due to lower body injuries.
His compatriot Scott Perunovich, who made his fourth move in four months, became the seventh qualified defender to qualify with just 11 forwards fielded. After whistling for Middleton's cross check, the Hibing Minnesota resident realized he was in for a power play – a suspicious call from the homecoming crowd – to push the guy 4:06 past the spectators in the game.
After Perunovich's shot bounced, Flereni and Bryden fought for the winning puck before Shane Foul, O'Reilly found an open net to hit it.
Earlier, Kaprezov noticed an imbalance in the power play.
Caprice's first goal saved Marcus Foligno Binington. Less than four minutes later, with another men's advantage, Kaprizov rushed to save the game by stripping the puck off the off-balance Colton Paraiko.
Kevin Fialla moved from the corner into the back of the left circle, where Caprizov hit Binington with a tight gap to the right shoulder and the back corner of the net. He completed the first lead change of the series, leading Wilde to a 2-1 lead.
"Now we're a hopeless hockey team," Foligano said. "You will see the best."
Note: Marian Gabrik, who scored nine goals in 18 games in 2003, holds the record for goals scored the following season. With 16 goals in 44 games, Jack has the most goals in play-offs in the history of the Parisian franchise. Kaprizov, who has scored 9 goals in 12 games, is already in fourth place overall. It was the 20th postseason game of his career with Minnesota, including 15 games with Chicago, but his fourth goal. লক্ষ্য The objective of the Blues is to have at least one big game in each game. They are 6 out of 20.
