Wild Game Day number 26 Wild Record (12-10-3 27 pts) Home Record (7-3-2)
Opponent: St. Louis Blues (17-8-1 35 pts) Road Record (8-3-1)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St.Paul, MN
Time: 5:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 10/13 Wild 2 @ Blues 3 11/26 Wild 3 @ Blues 4 (SO) 12/11 Blues 1 @ Wild 3 1/26 Blues 1 @ Wild 5 3/7 Blues 2 @ Wild 1
Playoff Results: Game 1: 4/12 Blues 2 @ Wild 1 (OT) Game 2: 4/14 Blues 2 @ Wild 1 Game 3: 4/16 Wild 1 @ Blues 3 Game 4: 4/19 Wild 2 @ Blues 0 Game 5: 4/22 Blues 4 @ Wild 3
Last result: 11/25 Wild 3 @ Blues 6
It's an early start this evening for the Wild as they host the Blues at 5PM. The Wild will be looking for revenge after losing 6-3 in St. Louis a week ago. The Blues have lost their last two since beating the Wild including a 4-1 home loss to former Wild backup Darcy Kuemper and the Los Angeles Kings.
Nate Prosser will make his return to the Wild lineup tonight, ironically against the Blues who signed him as a free agent in the off-season and waived him earlier this week.
Jarred Spurgeon will miss tonight's game and will miss the upcoming three game West Coast road trip. Having Prosser back will give the Wild another right handed shot defenseman as well as a veteran presence on the blueline.
Prosser is a true professional, he is well liked in the room, and it was obvious yesterday from the reactions of all the players upon his arrival.
Ryan Murphy has played well in the two games since his recall from Iowa. I would expect to see Murphy in the lineup again tonight, given his strong play combined with the fact that with Spurgeon out, he gives the Wild a viable powerplay option and a right shot.
If the Wild expect to get themselves into serious playoff contention, they will need to compete better with the top two teams in their own division. That starts tonight as the Blues arrive on a two game losing streak seeking to avoid what would be their first three game skid of the season.
Mike Yeo and his Blues have had the better of the Wild over the last two seasons winning 8 of the 11 games the teams have played including winning the opening round playoff series in five games last Spring.
That fact alone is very tough for Wild fans to swallow. It is time for the players on this Wild team to take pride in themselves and dig deep to start turning the tables on their former coach and his new team.
It's Always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
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