Wild Game Day number 35 Wild Record (19-10-6 44 pts) Road Record (5-5-5)
Opponent: St. Louis Blues (23-12-4 50 pts) Home Record (13-6-2)
Site: Scottrade Center, St Louis, Missouri
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 11/23 Blues 3 @ Wild 2 (SO) 3/14 Wild 3 @ Blues 1 3/21 Blues 3 @ Wild 6 4/11 Wild 2 @ Blues 4
Western Conference First Round Playoff Series Results Game 1 Wild 4 @ Blues 2 Game 2 Wild 1 @ Blues 4 Game 3 Blues 0 @ Wild 3 Game 4 Blues 6 @ Wild 1 Game 5 Wild 4 @ Blues 1 Game 6 Blues 1 @ Wild 4
Last meeting: 10/10 Blues 2 @ Wild 3 10/31 Wild 2 @ Blues 3 (OT)
The Wild travel to St. Louis to wrap up calendar year 2015. 2015 has been a very good year for the Wild as they won 52 lost 30 and dropped another 10 in OT/Shootout. Those totals include a playoff series win over the Blues. The Wild will be looking to build on the 3-1 victory they had at home on Monday night, over the Red Wings. They hit the road for their next four games all against Eastern Conference opponents after tonight.
The Wild and Blues have split the first two meetings with the home team winning each game by identical 3-2 scores, the Blues victory coming in OT. The Central Division is the most competitive division in the league and the Blues are 6 points ahead of the Wild but have played 4 more games.
Zach Parise will not play tonight as he deals with a lower body injury that is not expected to keep him out long. Every game he misses is one too many, as he is the heart and soul of the club, bringing a consistent high compete level every shift, every night. Devan Dubnyk will again be in net and Niklas Backstrom will serve as his backup with Darcy Kuemper out with a concussion.
Mike Yeo will have to do some line juggling with the absence of Parise, so look for Thomas Vanek to move to Granlund's line with Pominville, in place of #11. Koivu will skate with Zucker and Coyle, and Haula will center Niederreiter and Fontaine. The forward corps will round out with Stoll centering Porter and Carter.
The Blues have been very good of late going 8-4-0 in their last 12. St. Louis' offense is led by Vladimir Tarasenko and his 22 goals (Tied for 2nd in the NHL) Tarasenko is one of the league's most dynamic offensive talents and seems to make something happen offensively every time his line is on the ice. The Blues have won 8 of 12 but it hasn't been all roses, as they have scored 31 goals while allowing 26 over that span.
The Wild and Blues always play tight games and tonight should be another that follows that script. There is no love loss between these two teams and you can rest assured the 2 points will go to the team that digs the deepest and makes the most of their limited opportunities.
Special teams will be a factor, as they usually are, and these Central Division points are too valuable to squander power play opportunities. If the Wild expect to win they will need to be effective on the PP and must keep notorious Wild killer Tarasenko in check. Last game Mike Yeo inserted Matt Dumba on the 1st powerplay unit and they delivered a goal. Let's see if there is more of the same tonight in St. Louis.
Happy New Year!!! Be Safe and Enjoy the Festivities!!!
Let's Play Hockey!