Blues won't win series against Wild on Jake Allen's back

Allen plays 'game of his life' to lift Blues over Wild

Jake Allen of the St. Louis Blues makes a stick-side save against a shot by Mikael Granlund of the Minnesota Wild during the overtime period in Game One in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

And this is no slight to Jake Allen. 

He made 51 saves in Game 1 to allow his St. Louis Blues a chance to win it in overtime, and they did. But if the Blues are planning on winning more games against the Minnesota Wild, they'll need to do it without breaking Allen's back. 

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The St. Louis goalie, who had 33 wins and a .915 save percentage this season, is 4-5 with an overall .918 save percentage in 9 career playoff games. Indeed the 26-year-old netminder played the "game of his life" Wednesday night, and this should be a wakeup call to his teammates. 

Coach Yeo makes changes

Coach Mike Yeo is making sure his team hears the alarm with some lineup moves before Friday night's Game 2. NBC Sports reports Roberto Bortuzzo will replace Jordan Schmaltz on defense while Zach Sanford will replace Jori Lehtera up front. That sends a bit of a message to Yeo's team: If the coach doesn't like what he sees he is not afraid to swap you out, even if the team wins. 

Game 2 is 8 p.m. Friday in Minnesota. 

VIEW: Weekend NHL playoffs schedule