Postgame Hat Trick: Blues 3, Wild 2 (OT)

On Tuesday night, the Wild lost 3-2 in overtime against the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Wild.com's Dan Myers provides three takeaways in the Postgame Hat Trick, presented by Associated Bank. Learn more on how to score up to $500 by opening a Wild Checking account.

1. Good response, bad result.
Minnesota got the response it wanted after a 9-1 loss just 24 hours earlier, and it looked like it would even escape St. Louis with a two-game split.
But the Blues scored late in regulation, with the extra attacker on the ice, to force overtime, then saw captain Ryan O'Reilly lift a ridiculous backhander under the crossbar with two seconds left in overtime to take the extra point.
Overall, the Wild played a stout defensive game and got solid goaltending from Cam Talbot. It was a game it deserved to win, but will have to settle for just a single point instead.
2. From scratch to scoresheet.
Nico Sturm wasn't a part of the Wild's 9-1 loss on Friday night. He was a healthy scratch and watched from above. But with changes being made, Sturm earned a spot on Saturday then made his coach look good for putting him in.
Late in the first period, another lineup newcomer, Joseph Cramarossa, helped force a turnover at the defensive blueline. The speedy Sturm chased down the loose puck and sped in alone down the left side, firing a shot through goaltender Ville Husso for his fifth goal of the season.

It was some sweet redemption for Sturm, who had been a healthy scratch in three of the previous five games.
The goal gave the Wild a 1-0 lead after one period, setting the tone for what was a very different game than the one we saw on Friday.
3. Power up.
Minnesota's power play has been one of the best in the NHL over the past month, clicking at over 40 percent in the month of April alone. Only Dallas has been better the past 10 days.
Well, the Wild power play connected again late in the second period, breaking a 1-1 tie when Matt Dumba smashed a one-timer from the left circle, re-establishing the one-goal advantage into the second intermission.

The goal was Dumba's sixth of the year and first since March 6, a drought of 14 games. Perhaps more surprising was the fact that it was Dumba's first power-play goal of the season.
Minnesota, which ranked dead last in the League in power play percentage not long ago, is now up to 26th, having scored nine times with the man advantage in the past six games.