Season Series: Blues at Wild

BLUES AT WILD

The Blues have won four consecutive games and look for a fifth straight on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota. The winning streak comes at a perfect time as the team is still looking to secure the final playoff spot in the West Division. The Blues hold a three-point lead over the Arizona Coyotes in the standings with three games in hand.
Vladimir Tarasenko (lower-body) will miss his second consecutive game, and Torey Krug (upper-body) will be out Saturday, too.
PROJECTED LINEUP

THE SERIES SO FAR

March 25: Wild 2, Blues 0
The Blues fired 37 shots on goal and limited the Wild to only 11 shots, but still fell 2-0 at Xcel Energy Center. Cam Talbot recorded a 37-save shutout to extend Minnesota's home winning streak to 11 games.

April 9: Blues 9, Wild 1
Ryan O'Reilly scored his second career hat trick en route to a statement 9-1 Blues' win at Enterprise Center. Justin Faulk and Sammy Blais each had a goal and two assists and Jaden Schwartz scored two goals to give the Wild their most lopsided loss in franchise history - never before had the Wild given up nine goals in a single game. It was the Blues' best offensive performance since a 10-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings on March 30, 2011.

April 10: Blues 3, Wild 2 (OT)
With the St. Louis Blues trailing 2-1 in the final minute, Mike Hoffman delivered a game-tying goal with Ville Husso pulled and 42 seconds left in regulation. It was Hoffman's second goal of the game after being a healthy scratch in the previous two games. Then, with two seconds left in overtime, Ryan O'Reilly roofed a backhand shot over goalie Cam Talbot's shoulder to cap off a dramatic win at Enterprise Center - the Blues' third straight.

April 28: Blues 4, Wild 3
Minnesota led 3-1 after 40 minutes but the Blues would not be denied, rallying back to earn a regulation win at Xcel Energy Center in dramatic fashion. Mike Hoffman had two power-play goals in the game, and Jordan Kyrou tied it at 3-3 in the third period. Then, with 23 seconds left in regulation, Robert Thomas beat goalie Cam Talbot to seal a win for the Blues.

April 29: Blues 5, Wild 4 (OT)
Ryan O'Reilly scored two goals - including the overtime game-winner with 1:17 left on the clock - to secure a big two points for his team in the race for the final playoff spot in the West Division. Sammy Blais, Tyler Bozak and Marco Scandella added goals for the Blues, who won their fourth straight overall and gained a five-point edge on the Arizona Coyotes for the final playoff position.

BLUE NOTES

The Blues have points in nine of their last 10 games against the Wild (8-1-1)... Jordan Binnington is 5-1-0 with 1.35 goals-against average and a .952 save-percentage in his career against the Wild... Ryan O'Reilly has 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 12 career regular-season games against the Wild... Mike Hoffman has seven goals and four assists (11 points) in his last eight games... Robert Bortuzzo's next game will be his 300th as a Blue.