Preview: Blues vs. Wild

BLUES VS. WILD - 2 PM

THE MATCHUP

BLUES The St. Louis Blues have won four of the last five games, most recently a 4-0 shutout victory against the San Jose Sharks on Friday night.
Chad Johnson made 33 saves for his eighth career shutout and second consecutive win, Ryan O'Reilly extended his career-high point streak to nine games with a goal and Jaden Schwartz contributed a goal and an assist.
All of a sudden, things are looking up for the Blues.
"I think this one means a lot to us as a team," Vladimir Tarasenko said of Friday's win. "I think everybody put their best effort in, and we have another tough game coming (Sunday)… With the score and the opponent, (Friday) was one of the best games (we've played). We have lot of stuff to build on and I think guys feel more confident. It's a really big step forward for us."
Johnson could make his third straight start on Sunday. Brayden Schenn (upper-body) remains questionable, but Blues Head Coach Mike Yeo said Schenn was progressing and looked good in practice.
WILD Minnesota dished out a convincing 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night at Honda Center to improve to 10-4-2 on the season.
Mikael Granlund and Jason Zucker each had two goals and an assist and Alex Stalock made 20 saves for the Wild, who have won nine of their last 11 games.
"It's fun coaching any team that's winning," Wild Head Coach Bruce Boudreau told NHL.com after the game. "It's not fun coaching teams that are losing, and I've been on both ends of the thing."
The Wild will wrap up a franchise-record seven-game road trip on Sunday afternoon in St. Louis. They are 4-2-0 on the trip.
HEAD-TO-HEAD The Blues had a disappointing effort in their first meeting of the season with the Wild, falling 5-1 last week.
"We weren't there, we weren't involved in the game, so they handed it to us," Yeo said. "I think we have to be ready for a good hard game, this is a team that's playing very well right now. They're very deep… they've been showing they're one of the top teams in the League right now. We've got to be ready for that."
The Blues currently rank second in the NHL, averaging 3.57 goals-per game. Minnesota ranks fifth with 2.56 goals-per game.

THEY SAID IT

Ryan O'Reilly
On facing the Minnesota Wild
"When I was in Colorado playing against them, and now here, I don't like them. That's a team I really don't like. I want to beat them. It's going to take us all. We have to bring our best game and our highest energy to beat a team that's playing really well right now."
Chad Johnson
On how the Blues can be effective against the Wild
"Just as a group, try to play a strong defensive game. They're going to sit back a little bit and try to counter off our mistakes. I think we have to play the same way. I think that's Blues hockey - us really sticking together, working as a five-man unit in the offensive zone and defensive zone - not giving them opportunities and making them earn it."

BLUE NOTES

O'Reilly's nine-game point streak (eight goals, eight assists) is the longest point streak by a Blue in their first season with the team since Doug Weight had a nine-game point streak from Oct. 4-25, 2001 (four goals, nine assists)… Tarasenko has points in six straight games (four goals, four assists) and has nine points in his last eight games against the Wild (five goals, four assists)… With a goal and an assist Friday, Alexander Steen recorded his 462nd point as a Blue, moving past David Backes for sixth all-time in franchise history in points… The Blues are 4-2 so far on their season-long seven-game homestand… The Blues rank first overall in the NHL with a 56.4 percent face-off win percentage… Sunday's game will salute the military in a variety of ways, including camouflage jerseys in warm-ups, a special tribute during the national anthem and a care package donation drive for the troops. Learn more at
stlouisblues.com/salute
.