Preview: Blues at Wild

BLUES AT WILD

TEAM SNAPSHOTS

BLUES A tightly-contested division battle between the Blues and Avalanche ended the same way the previous eight games had... with another Blues win.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored the game-winning goal in the third period to extend his career-best point streak to 11 games, Zach Sanford added an insurance goal shortly afterwards and Jaden Schwartz sealed the deal with an empty-net goal to give the Blues a 3-0 win against the Avalanche.
Jake Allen made 32 saves for the shutout as the Blues won their ninth consecutive game.
"We're treating every game like a new day," Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo said. "It's not an easy building to come in here and play. They're trying to catch us. Come in here and play the way we did, second (period) wasn't great, but we found a way to win."
"We're confident, but the team really understands the work that has to be put in game to game," Blues Head Coach Craig Berube said. "The focus and urgency that's needed all the time, we'll need the same (Sunday against the Minnesota Wild)."

WILD The Minnesota Wild had a 4-1 lead against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night, but the Devils battled back and eventually took a 5-4 overtime victory.
It was a tough blow to the Wild, who were clinging to the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference as of Saturday afternoon. Minnesota is 3-4-3 in their last 10 games.
"I think it's disappointing for all of us," goalie Devan Dubnyk told NHL.com after Friday's game. "For me, you're used to keeping the score as is and keeping the puck out, you keep it 4-1 going into the third and cruise through the third period. But it just seems to be the way it's going right now, they're finding their way in. It's frustrating. We probably deserved four points out of the last two games, and we only got one. Gotta find a way. I don't know what else to say."
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues and Wild will meet for the third time this season on Sunday afternoon. The Blues have lost both games to Minnesota this season.
In the last 15 trips to Minnesota, the Blues are 7-6-2.
The Wild lead the NHL with 38 goals from defensemen this season, while the Blues rank second with 34.

BLUE NOTES

Craig Berube will be coaching in his 200th NHL game Sunday… Robert Bortuzzo is expected to play in his 200th game as a Blue, while Colton Parayko is expected to play in his 300th career game… Tarasenko has 10 goals and nine assists over his 11-game point streak… WIth a win, the Blues would tie the longest winning streak in franchise history at 10 games, which was originally set from Jan. 3-23, 2002… The Blues are the only team in the League that has not lost in the month of February.