Blues 'a better team' as they prepare for rematch with Avs

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Blues eliminated the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a mid-series goalie change and an unconventional lineup.

Now, the team heads to Colorado to face the top-seeded Avalanche in the second round.

“I don’t mind starting the playoffs on the road,” Blues forward David Perron said. “I think a lot of times you have just nerves sitting at home and when you start on the road, you’re at the hotel kind of sitting with the guys.”

The Blues have met the Avalanche in the playoffs twice before, losing both matchups, including getting swept in the first round last season.

The Blues are confident they are in a better position to compete with Colorado than they were last year.

“I think we’re a better team than last year for sure,” Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly said. “It’s gonna be a very tough challenge for us. You know, they’re one of, if not the best, team in the league this year. They’re dynamic, deep as well.”

The Blues had nine players score at least 20 goals this season, the most in the NHL.

“We’re deeper this year than we were last year,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “Up front we’re deeper, back end we’re deeper. So, I think it’ll be a tough series for sure.”

The Blues depth on the blue line was tested against the Wild. St. Louis lost Nicky Leddy, Robert Bortuzzo and Torey Krug to injuries in the first three games of the opening round.

Leddy and Bortuzzo returned for Game 5, but Krug (lower body) remains day to day. The injuries prompted the coaching staff to employ a starting lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen in the final three games against Minnesota.

“There’s a lot a lot that goes into it,” Blues forward Tyler Bozak said. “They (the coaches) see the