from Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch,

The Minnesota Wild gained the upper hand in this series by skating past the Blues 3-0 Monday night and taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven battle.

The status quo didn’t cut it for the Blues in Game 3. After surviving the first period in the lively Xcel Energy Center, they capitulated in the second period.

They allowed two goals and nearly a few more.

The third period wasn’t a whole lot better.

“They checked us really hard and they got us to crack,” Hitchcock said.

Added Blues defenseman Barret Jackman: “We helped them beat us. We didn’t stick to our game plan.”

“That was a tough one,” fellow defenseman Jay Bouwmeester said. “We got what we deserved.”

So tactical, personnel and attitude adjustments are in order. The Blues do not want to fall into a 3-1 series hole against a such a confident, skilled opponent.

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