Allen will be between the pipes for Game 1 of the Blues' first-round playoff series against the Wild, Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. After sticking with his struggling veteran netminder last postseason in Ryan Miller, coach Ken Hitchcock decided not to go down that path again, as the up-and-coming Allen will draw the nod over Brian Elliott, who slumped badly down the stretch. Allen earned the trust of the coaching staff by allowing two or fewer goals in each of his last seven starts, earning the win on five of those occasions. Despite his strong play, Allen's lack of postseason experience may give him a short leash in the event he unexpectedly struggles in Game 1.