Preview: The Wild is 0-7-1 in its past eight and hasn't been winless in nine in a row (0-6-3) since early 2002. The Blues have lost four of their past seven but beat the Wild 6-3 on Saturday and outshot Minnesota 47-16. On Feb. 11 in St. Louis, the Wild rallied from a goal down four times to win in a shootout.

Players to watch: Wild C Matt Cullen is one point from becoming the eighth Minnesota-born player to record 500 points. Cullen has no goals and three assists in the past 17 games. In the past 10 games against St. Louis, LW Andrew Brunette has 12 points and C Mikko Koivu 11. Since being acquired from Colorado in the Erik Johnson trade, RW Chris Stewart has 11 goals in 19 games. If D Alex Pietrangelo had played a few less games the past two seasons, he would be the top-producing rookie defenseman in the NHL. He has scored 41 points.

Numbers: The Wild has been outscored 37-12 during its eight-game winless streak and has played with the lead for 23:11. ... Minnesota is 11-4-2 against teams that now sit below it in the Western Conference standings.

Injuries: Koivu and RW Chuck Kobasew didn't practice Monday but are expected to play. LW Guillaume Latendresse (lower body), D Cam Barker (back) and D Marco Scandella (finger) are out. Blues C Vladimir Sobotka (foot), LW Alex Steen (ankle), D Barret Jackman (finger) and RW David Perron (concussion) are out. F T.J. Oshie (unexcused absence from practice Monday) is doubtful.

MICHAEL RUSSO