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Posted at 3:30 PM EST.

St. Louis +110 over Minnesota

Game 1 - Eastern Conference Quarterfinal

9:30 PM EST. The Wild were a team that was on our radar all season. They had the look of a team that was going to put it all together and for the most part, they did. Minnesota finished second in the Central with 113 points, just six shy of the mighty Avalanche. With home ice advantage in the first round, the Wild look ready to finally break out.

This is the part where we come to rain on the Minny parade. Despite the success in the regular season, the Wild waved a huge white flag to the hockey world. The only problem is the pundits and pick sellers read that message the wrong way.

Forgive us, but the addition of Marc-Andre Fleury at the deadline did not scream, “We’re going for it!” to us. From our perch, it reeks of desperation. The Wild were not supposed to need a goalie this season and for the most part, they have not. Cam Talbot was arguably the hottest netminder down the stretch going 13-0-3 over his last 16 starts. Dude didn’t lose a game in regulation, yet, he’s on the bench. What does that say to your locker room? What does that say to Talbot?

Wild coach, Dean Evason, has painted himself into a corner here. This is a no win situation unless Fleury goes on some Cinderella-like run at 37. If Fleury plays like he did this season for the Blackhawks, the Wild are in trouble. Then what? Is Evanson supposed to look at Talbot and the other 20 guys who have been in that dressing room all year and tell them he was wrong and it’s time to change course? You know that isn’t happening. Evanson would look like more of an idiot than he does already.

The Blues got hot at the right time and they appear to be primed for the playoffs. Unlike the Wild, St. Louis is going to ride its red hot goaltender with Ville Husso getting the nod. Husso went 9-0-2 in his last 11 starts and was a major reason that the Blues shot up the standings the last month of the year and snuck into third. The Blue Notes know a thing or two about turning it up at the right time and riding a hot goaltender for a deep run. This year, the Blue Notes are just as loaded and probably more so with much more balance than they had in the year they won the cup. The Blues are ready once again.