GAME DAY REPORT: Coach wary of former team despite playoff series deficit

Coach wary of former team despite playoff series deficit

The Minnesota Wild aren’t in an enviable position. They’re heading into St. Louis for game three of their opening round playoff series after losing their first two games of the best-of-seven series

The advantage of home ice apparently squandered, it will be an uphill battle for the Wild to remain competitive against the Blues in this series.

It’s not time to take the foot off the gas for the Blues however, and nobody knows this better than head coach Mike Yeo.

Speaking after St. Louis’ won their second 2-1 victory over the Wild in nail-biting fashion, Yeo had this to say of the team he formerly coached for the better part of five seasons: "I know that’s not a team that’s gonna quit"

Yeo was fired last season after a 23-22-10 start to the season in Minnesota on February 13, 2016. He was hired to coach the Blues in the 2016 offseason.

The Wild replaced Yeo with Bruce Boudreau, who lead to the team to a 49-25-8 record this season, good for second in the Central Division and securing home ice advantage against the rival Blues.

All that has counted for little as far as the Wild are concerned. Both Minnesota and Boudreau have historically struggled in the post-season, and the team so far hasn’t been able to shake their weak regular-season finish in their first two playoff games.

But, the Wild do have a highly skilled team with a good mix of veteran and youth talent, the two games have been decided by a single goal, one of which came in overtime. The series is still close, and much closer than the Blues 2-0 lead would suggest.

The Blues have the advantage heading home to St. Louis, but all they have to do is falter just a bit and the Wild could turn the tables in Missouri. The action kicks off again Sunday April 14^th.