Carlo Colaiacovo scores game-winner as St. Louis Blues overtake Minnesota Wild 4-3 -NHL Preseason
St. Louis Blues are on their way to revolutionising their team image and continue winning games whether they are preseason or regulation. It was as intense matchup as St. Louis’s Carlo Colaiacovo scored the game-winning goal to overtake Minnesota Wild, 4-3,
answering back from their last shutout against the team on Tuesday, September 27 at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Winning over Minnesota makes this their fourth victory of the 2011 National Hockey League (NHL) preseason out of a total of six matchups played so far.
Describing the preseason as time for the newly acquired players to adjust, Minnesota Wild player, Mikko Koivu, thinks that losing right now is not important.
"There were two ways to look at. If you want some good players, usually some good players go the other way, and that's what happened", Koivu told NHL.com. "I played with (Brent Burns) for seven years and became good friends and that is obviously tough, but
when you get good players back and you know they can help your team, it brings you a little more confidence”.
Marek Zidlicky capitalised on the added man advantage straight away without any hesitation as Blues’ lost Kevin Shattenkirk for a two minute minor penalty. Scott Nichol answered back to level the match at the 17:51 mark for his first of the preseason but
it was Mikko Koivu, Minnesota’s star player that took the lead once again only 16 seconds later.
B.J. Crombeen and Clayton Stoner were given five minute majors for exchanging firsts a little over midway through the first.
Brett Bulmer made the equalising shot coming into the second period followed by another St. Louis tie-breaker as Patrik Berglund emerged to record his first with 11:15 left to go.
Matt D'Agostini found another power play opportunity and levelled the match at 3-3. As time went on, it looked as the match would go into a forced overtime but Carlo Colaiacovo’s quick thinking at 18:51 gave St. Louis the boost they need to win.
St. Louis Blues return home to play the remaining two matchups against Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, while Minnesota will go up against Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
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