By Brian Stensaas
Greetings from the Xcel Energy Center. Wow - it seems I've been blogging that a lot lately; I was here all week for the boys' state hockey tournament (some great games, by the way), and blogged more than anything else. Before games, during games, after games ... We sure love our continuous news.
Got word late last night that I would be back here again today to take you through the Wild vs. Blues tilt. Russo is not in the building, but he assures me he'll be watching on television and you know he can't stay away from Twitter. So look for his insight and wit this evening (@russostrib) in addition to mine (@stensation).
The Wild comes into this game with 70 points, eight back of eighth-place Detroit (idle) for the last playoff spot. The Blues sit in 10th place, five out.
Needless to say, this game is a biggie. Aw - who am I kidding ,.. Todd Richards and Company have been saying these games are practical "must wins" since early February.
Minnesota is 10-3-4 all-time here at the X against St. Louis, and the home team has won the first three meetings this season. Overall, Minnesota has won nine of its last 14 at home. Josh Harding, who will start today I assume since the team didn't skate yesterday, has not lost at home since Valentine's Day, 2009.
So things look good, for the hometown team but we're about 90 minutes from face off, and that's when it counts.
OK time for me to get organized for the game - the 16th (14 high school, 2 Wild) I'll have seen here since last Tuesday
