For a couple weeks as Minnesota and St. Louis jockeyed down the stretch for playoff position, all the talk was about home-ice advantage. Who would get it? How much of a factor would it be?
Well, Minnesota ended up with home ice by finishing second in the Central Division. That meant the Wild would get a Game 7 at home, if there was a Game 7. It also meant the Wild would play the first two games of the best-of-seven series at home.
Well, it took the Blues only about 2 1/2 hours to negate home ice. They were disciplined, determined and opportunistic on defense, defeating the Wild 4-0. Game 2 is Wednesday at Xcel.
