Nail Yakupov had a goal and an assist and Jake Allen made several big saves as the St. Louis Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 on Thursday night.
Alexander Steen and Magnus Paajarvi also scored for St. Louis. Patrik Berglund had two assists and Allen made 18 saves for the Blues, who have won four of their past five home openers.
Ryan Suter and Charlie Coyle scored for the Wild, who were 4-0-1 in their previous five season openers.
Yakupov put the Blues ahead 2-1 on his first career slap shot goal at 12:36 of the second. The shot went off Devan Dubnyk's glove and floated over his shoulder into the net.
Yakupov found Paajarvi as the last man on a 3-on-2 rush to give the Blues a 3-1 lead early in the third.
Blues F Jaden Schwartz (elbow) missed his second game Thursday.
The Blues host the New York Rangers on Saturday at 7 p.m.
