Today is a game the Wild have circled as more than a battle for second place in the Central and home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It is a game that the Wild need to win in their transition to contender. St. Louis has simply owned the Wild winning 12 of the previous 15 including last Friday's 4-3 comeback overtime victory.
St. Louis has a Stanley Cup victory and they have the playoff pedigree that the Wild are seeking. In a preview of the first round matchup the Wild want to change the momentum in this series and put some element of doubt in their Division rival's minds heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Jordan Greenway is out again today and Tyson Jost fills in on the GREEF line. Jost has been a solid addition to the Wild lineup since coming over from Colorado in exchange for Nico Sturm. Jost brings a lot more versatility to the Wild lineup with the ability to play up and down the lineup at center or wing and be productive.
The Wild's banged up defense has held solid while Matt Dumba and Jon Merrill have been on the mend. Alex Goligoski has returned to the form we saw through much of the first half of the season and Jordie Benn is effective at doing what is expected of him which is solid D zone coverage and his no nonsense approach to shot blocking.
Both Cam Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury have been remarkable in the Wild crease since the two have formed the goaltender tandem that has alternated starts since late March. They are absolutely feeding off of each other and pushing to be their best. Talbot has always played his best when pushed by his goaltending partner, throughout his NHL career, while Marc-Andre Fleury has been the one to push his partners during his Hall of Fame career.
The Wild want to erase the memory of blowing their two goal third period lead last Friday and letting the Blues off the hook, before losing the game in overtime on a brilliant one timer by Robert Thomas on the cross ice feed from Vladimir Tarasenko.
That is definitely a game the Wild feel they let slip away, and will look to make amends today. The roster moves that Bill Guerin made at the deadline were directly related to matching up better with the Blues along with some of the other heavier clubs they will be competing with once the real season begins.
Their first meeting with St. Louis was better last week, today is another opportunity to see just how the progression is coming for the Wild.
Another National TV broadcast for the Wild and a great opportunity for the rest of the hockey world to take not8ce of this very strong Wild team.
On another note, want to give a huge shout out and congratulations to former Fox Sports North broadcaster, Jamie Hersch, as she makes her play by play debut on The NHL Network's coverage of the Penguins and Bruins today.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!