Fresh off their thrilling 5-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche to start the season, the Minnesota Wild took the ice against the St. Louis Blues in a rematch of the first round of last year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, a physical series which the Wild won.

The game looked like it would be scoreless going into the first intermission, but the Wild were able to get on the board with just eight seconds left when Charlie Coyle took advantage of a Blues turnover in their own zone, and then put a backhand shot past the goalie to put Minnesota up 1-0 going into the first intermission.

The Blues tied the game early in the second period when Alexander Steen scored. Zach Parise, who got a hat trick against Colorado, then scored on the power play to put the Wild up 2-1. Just seconds later, Coyle scored his second of the game to put the Wild up 3-1. 

St. Louis got within one goal early in the third when Vladamir Tarasenko scored a power play goal to cut the Minnesota lead to 3-2. Despite pulling their goalie late in the game and some very good chances in the closing seconds, the Blues were unable to tie the game. When the final horn sounded, the Wild were 2-0 on the young season.

In the game, the Blues actually outshot the Wild 32-19, but Minnesota goalie Devan Dubnyk was on his game, as he finished with 30 saves on the night, including one on a last second shot that nearly slipped in the net but Dubnyk was able to get enough of it to stop it.

"It's good to get wins this time of year," Wild head coach Mike Yeo said after the game. "Nobody's on top of their game completely, but when you can get wins when you are not on top of your game, that's a good thing."

"It was an awesome atmosphere," defenseman Matt Dumba commented after the game. "When we came out for puck drop, the fans were into it, and it almost felt like it was near the end of the season."

The Wild now have some time off, as they do not take the ice again until Thursday when they travel to Arizona to face the Coyotes. They then travel to California to face the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks, before returning home to Minnesota for a three game homestand.

The Blues, meanwhile, now head to Canada for a five game swing against Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Montreal before returning to St. Louis for a five game homestand that will include a rematch with the Wild on October 31st.

VAVEL USA THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1) Devan Dubnyk (Minnesota)

2) Charlie Coyle (Minnesota)

3) Alexander Steen (St. Louis)