game 6 preview

2 P.M. VS. ST. LOuis • XCEL •• Ch. 11, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild, ahead 3-2 in a series for the first time in team history, has a chance to upset the Central Division champion and advance to the Western Conference semifinals for a second consecutive season. The Wild has never won a series before Game 7. The Wild, coming off a 4-1 Game 5 victory, is 6-2 in its past eight playoff games at home but lost Game 4, 6-1. The Wild was 4-5-1 in its final 10 home games in the regular season. The Blues are 4-17 in their past 21 road playoff games since 2003. When NHL teams are tied 2-2, the Game 5 winner has gone on to win the series 78.7 percent of the time.

Players to watch: LW Zach Parise leads the Wild with five points. D Marco Scandella, LW Nino Niederreiter and RW Jason Pominville lead with two goals apiece. Thomas Vanek and Chris Stewart is each looking for his first goal. Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko's six goals are the most in the playoffs, and he is tied with teammate Kevin Shattenkirk for the most points with seven. The Russian has 10 goals in 12 career playoff games. Blues RW T.J. Oshie has one assist in the series.

Numbers: The Wild ranks first in the playoffs with a 36.3 power play percentage. … The Wild and Blues are tied for fourth in the NHL with 2.60 goals-against average. … Each game in the Blues-Wild series has featured at least a two-goal margin, with the past four contests decided by three or more goals. This series is the only one of eight first-round series without a one-goal game, and none of the seven other series have had more than two games decided by three goals or more.

Injuries: Wild D Keith Ballard (concussion) is out. Blues C Jori Lehtera (undisclosed) is questionable.

MICHAEL RUSSO