![Minnesota Wild goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (34) prepares for a shot by St. Louis Blues right wing Vladimir Tarasenko (91) in the third period of the 2022 Winter Classic Saturday, Jan. 01, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minn. Kahkonen replaced Cam Talbot in goal in the third period after Talbot surrendered six goals in two periods. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/Y4DQGXKWPBJUN7GZH4R3BSUYRI.jpg?&w=1080)
ST. LOUIS — Will the Wild stay in second place in the Central Division or be demoted to third with three weeks to go in the regular season?
That'll be decided Friday night in a key matchup against the Blues at Enterprise Center at the end of the team's four-game road trip.
"They've got a ton of everything, ton of skill up front," coach Dean Evason said. "I know they're known as a heavy, gritty team. But when we're watching, they've got a lot of skill up front with all four lines. Great challenge for us here tonight."
The Wild is currently one point ahead of St. Louis, which can jump over the Wild in the standings with a regulation win. Because the Wild has played one fewer game than the Blues, it will remain the second seed if the game progresses to overtime or a shootout.
And finishing second in the division is important because it locks up home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs where the Wild and St. Louis could potentially meet.
"Everyone wants to play for playoffs and home ice in the playoffs," said Blues winger Brandon Saad. "These are important games for us. It's a good challenge, but the biggest thing is focusing on what we control and what we can do out there."
Cam Talbot will start in net for the Wild, with Ville Husso getting the nod for the Blues. St. Louis forward Jordan Kyrou wasn't ruled out by coach Craig Berube, but Kyrou's dealing with illness and didn't skate Friday morning.
This could also be a meaningful game for linemates Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello.
