Gameday: Wild vs. St. Louis

Last update: November 22, 2008 - 12:37 AM

Preview: The Wild lost 3-2 to Vancouver on Thursday night, putting it three points behind the Canucks in the Northwest Division. The Wild is trying to avoid back-to-back home losses for the first time in a year (Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, 2007). The Blues, who beat Anaheim 3-2 in overtime at home Friday night, are making their first of two trips to Minnesota over the next two weeks. They also play at Xcel on Dec. 3. The Blues are last in the Central Division.

Players to watch: Wild center Mikko Koivu has been one bright spot on an otherwise sputtering offense. Koivu scored both Minnesota goals Thursday, including the team's first shorthander of the season, and leads the team with 18 points Goalie Niklas Backstrom has started 110 NHL games and is 63-19-11 in his past 93 decisions. Before Friday, left winger Keith Tkachuk led the Blues with nine goals.

Numbers: The Wild leads the league with a 1.97 goals against average; no other team was lower than 2.11 before Friday. It has played in three consecutive one-goal games. The Wild is 11-2-3 in the past 16 games against St. Louis.

Injuries: Wild right winger Marian Gaborik (lower body) and defenseman Kurtis Foster (leg) are out. For the Blues, D Erik Johnson (knee), left winger D.J. King (shoulder), center T.J Oshie (ankle), LW Paul Kariya (lower body), RW Dan Hinote (lower body) and C Andy McDonald (leg) are all out.

BRIAN STENSAAS

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