Wild at Blues
The St. Louis are over the NHL's version of the .500 mark for the first time this season and will have a chance to avenge one of their worst defeats of the season when they host the Minnesota Wild on Sunday to close out a seven-game homestand. St. Louis has won two in a row and four of five, the only loss in that span a 5-1 drubbing by the visiting Wild.
The Blues responded to last week's thrashing by Minnesota with a pair of one-sided wins, including a 4-0 shutout of San Jose on Friday night. "There was a lot of good in the game, (but) I think the next one would be a little bit more of a statement for me, to be honest with you," St. Louis coach Mike Yeo said. "If we can beat two good teams in a row, now you’re talking." The Wild opened the season by losing four of their first five games (1-2-2) but have ripped off nine victories in their last 11. Like the Blues, Minnesota has won two straight in impressive fashion and four of its last five -- all coming away from home -- as it prepares to conclude a franchise-record seven-game road trip.
TV: 3 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 1; FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
ABOUT THE WILD (10-4-2): Mikael Granlund leads the team in goals (nine) and points (17) after scoring twice and setting up another in Friday's 5-1 rout in Anaheim, giving him four tallies and as many assists on the road trip. Minnesota outshot the Ducks by a 2-to-1 margin (43-21) and also tilted the ice in last weekend's matchup against the Blues with a 45-16 edge in shots on goal. "We are playing much better with the puck now and getting pressure on them and it's a fun way to play," Granlund said. You don't need to defend all night. ... We just have to keep it going."
ABOUT THE BLUES (6-5-3): Yeo declined to say who will be in net Sunday but the smart money is on backup Chad Johnson, who delivered the team's first shutout of the season Friday and has turned away 71 of 72 shots in his first two starts. "I want to be careful because I don’t want to say something that sounds like Jake (Allen) is not doing the job," Yeo said. "We’ve played two solid games in front of Chad and he’s played very well. He’s been very solid. He’s played real strong for us." Forward Vladimir Tarasenko extended his point streak to six games with an assist against San Jose.
OVERTIME
1. Wild G Devan Dubnyk is 4-1-0 in his last five against the Blues.
2. Blues C Brayden Schenn has missed the past two games and is doubtful for Sunday because of an undisclosed injury.
3. Wild D Ryan Suter collected five points in four games against St. Louis in 2017-18.