(4-8-22) Wild-Blues Gameday Lineup

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- They haven't faced each other since the Winter Classic in Target Field, but finally, the Blues (40-20-10) and Minnesota Wild (43-21-5) will play twice in nine days beginning today at 7 p.m. (BSMW, ESPN 101.1-FM) and the stakes are big.

Separated by just one point in the Central Division, the Blues, with a regulation win, can reclaim the second spot in the division. A loss or overtime/shootout win/loss would not be severely damaging, but wouldn't be ideal either.

In any case, two teams playing well on a collision course not only tonight, but also here at Enterprise Center on April 16 in what quite possible could be a preview of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

"There's some position that seems to be available and still yet to be set in stone," Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. "I think guys know there's an opportunity here to kind of climb in the standings. If we can finish second in the division, that would put us with some home ice here in the first round. I think guys realize that and know the importance and it's a big game. I'm sure Minnesota feels the same way.

"You know what's going on. It's in your division and realistically, I think we're only playing them three times this year. Some teams four, so it's not the old days where you're playing a divisional team eight times and you seem to really know them that well anyways. We know what's at stake and we know how they've been playing. You can see. Whether you have a pulse for them or not exactly, it's a big game. It'll sort itself out I guess."

The Blues are 5-0-1 in their past six games to stay close to the Wild, who are 9-1-1 in the past 11 games after a 6-2 loss at the Nashville Predators on Tuesday, ending Minnesota's 10-game point streak.

"It’s going to be a big game," Blues defenseman Colton Parayko said. "They play fast. They play good. I think they have a good all-around team. They've got guys that can score, they've got a big line there that works hard, is physical. They kind of just have a good, complete team. I think it’s going to be a good matchup because we have a good, complete team as well.

"Two teams, one point apart, this part of the season is obviously a big game."

The makeup of the Wild's roster has drastically changed since the Blues saw them at the home of the Minnesota Twins on Jan. 1. The Wild have added goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who is not in goal tonight for what it's worth; they've also added some grit and physicality with defenseman Jacob Middleton and forward Nick Deslauriers.

"I think Middleton and Deslauriers are both physical players, one on the back end," Blues coach Craig Berube said. "That's the type of player they are. They're going to be more physical on the back end for sure adding him, and up front, they already are pretty physical with the [Joel] Erikson Ek line, but Deslauriers is a physical player too. That's fine.

"We've just got to play. We're not built like them. We've got to play to our strengths and we've got to initiate physicality themselves. You know you're going to get hit. Big deal. Just play. That's part of the game. That's not a big deal. I really don't believe it is, but move the puck quick. The sooner we get the pucks and move them and stuff, we can eliminate that a little bit too. Tonight, it's going to be important that we are in the offensive zone working that team, taking that forecheck and that physicality out of their game. If we do a good job and play in the offensive zone and control the play and puck possession and make them work, that'll take a lot of that away. That's going to be a big part of the game for us tonight."

The Blues have found their scoring touch, scoring four or more goals in each of their past six games and would like to continue that trend tonight.

"It's an important game," said forward Brandon Saad, who has a goal and five assists his past six games. "We're all jockeying for position here. We know how important it is. We know the type of schedule we have left and we want to take care of home games especially. They're a good team and it's a challenge for us here tonight.

"They've made some additions. Obviously they're having success as of late and so are we, so it's a good challenge for us. Everyone wants to fight for playoffs and for home ice in the playoffs. These are important games for us. It's a good challenge, but the biggest thing is focusing in on what we can control and what we can do out there."

- - -

The Blues will have a different look to their lineup, it seems anyway. 

Forward Jordan Kyrou was not on the ice for the morning skate and isn't expected to play with another bout of illness, but Berube said he hasn't ruled him out for tonight, although Alexei Toropchenko was in Kyrou's spot on the third line and the power-play units had a different look without Kyrou. Logan Brown was centering the fourth line, too.

Kyrou, who played the past two games, missed the previous three with illness as well.

"Illness. A little different," Berube said of Kyrou, who had two goals and two assists in the Winter Classic. "Probably has what 'Brownie' had. Logan Brown was out a little bit with illness. Probably the same thing."

Also, defenseman Niko Mikkola will slot in on the third D-pair with Robert Bortuzzo in place of Calle Rosen, who has done an adequate job in the games he's played this season. The Blues are 8-2-2 with Rosen in the lineup, but with Minnesota boasting some bigger, grittier players, the Blues want to add some brawn themselves.

"Big body. They go to the net hard, and we're going to have to be strong around our net, boxing people out and getting in the way and blocking shots," Berube said. "Mikkola adds size and is capable of doing that."

- - -

Defenseman Torey Krug and center Tyler Bozak were on the ice for the morning skate, a positive sign that they are getting closer to returning to action.

Bozak has missed 11 games with a lower-body injury, and Krug has missed the past eight with a hand injury.

Neither will play tonight, however, and Berube isn't sure when they will. Each has been skating on his own.

"They're coming along well," Berube said. "I thought they looked pretty good in practice today. Good to see. I'm not sure of the date when they'll be back yet, but it's getting close."

The next step for each?

"Contact and things like that," Berube said. "A real practice, like a full practice. Hopefully soon we get into one and they can join us."

- - -

* Goalie Ville Husso, who will start tonight,  is 5-0-1 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .934 save percentage in his last six appearances; he is 3-0-0 with a 1.91 GAA and .934 save percentage in his career against the Wild.

* Center Robert Thomas carries an NHL career-high seven-game point streak (four goals, eight assists) into the game.

* Center Ryan O'Reilly has a five-game point streak (three goals, three assists).

* Center Brayden Schenn has a six-game point streak (two goals, six assists).

* Forward Pavel Buchnevich has a four-game point streak (three goals, four assists), and forward Ivan Barbashev also has a four-game point streak (three goals, two assists).

* Defenseman Nick Leddy has an assist in three straight games.

* The Blues are 7-0-1 in their past eight games against the Wild and have won five in a row at home, outscoring Minnesota 25-7.

- - -

The Blues' projected lineup: 

Brandon Saad-Ryan O'Reilly-David Perron

Pavel Buchnevich-Robert Thomas-Vladimir Tarasenko

Ivan Barbashev-Brayden Schenn-Alexei Toropchenko

Mackenzie MacEachern-Logan Brown-Nathan Walker

Marco Scandella-Colton Parayko

Nick Leddy-Justin Faulk

Niko Mikkola-Robert Bortuzzo

Ville Husso will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup. 

The healthy scratch is Calle Rosen. Torey Krug (hand), Tyler Bozak (lower body), Scott Perunovich (wrist) are out, and Jordan Kyrou (illness) is not expected to play.

- - -

The Wild's projected lineup: 

Kirill Kaprizov-Ryan Hartman-Mats Zuccarello

Kevin Fiala-Frederick Gaudreau-Tyson Jost

Jordan Greenway-Joel Eriksson Ek-Marcus Foligno

Brandon Duhaime-Nick Bjugstad-Nicolas Deslauriers

Jacob Middleton-Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin-Dmitry Kulikov

Jordie Benn-Alex Goligoski

Cam Talbot will start in goal; Marc-Andre Fleury will be the backup. 

The Wild report no healthy scratches. Matt Dumba (upper body), Matt Boldy (upper body) and Jon Merrill (upper body) are out.