(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Blues will shoot for a third consecutive
victory when they host the Minnesota Wild in Sunday's battle at Scottrade
Center.
The Blues have won four of five games to begin this lockout-shortened campaign
and the latest triumph came Saturday evening in Texas. David Perron registered
two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist as St. Louis edged the
Dallas Stars, 4-3, at American Airlines Center.
"I thought Perron was head and shoulders the best player on the ice," said
Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock.
Chris Stewart and Wade Redden also tallied for the Blues, while Jaroslav Halak
made 20 saves. Redden scored his first goal in the NHL since March 18, 2010,
when he was with the New York Rangers.
The Blues are 2-0 at home to begin the season after posting a 30-6-5 mark in
the Gateway City in 2011-12.
Minnesota began the season with two straight wins but enters Sunday's contest
on a two-game losing streak. The Wild suffered their first loss of the year
Tuesday against Nashville and also dropped a 5-3 decision Friday night in
Detroit. Todd Bertuzzi scored twice to lead the Red Wings to the home victory
over the Wild.
Zach Parise posted a pair of goals for the Wild, giving him three goals and
three assists in his first four games with Minnesota. Parise and defenseman
Ryan Suter signed matching 13-year, $98 million contracts with the Wild in the
offseason. Suter hasn't fared as well as Parise so far in his debut season in
St. Paul, posting a minus-four rating and one assist in four games.
Josh Harding was tagged for five scores on 27 shots for Minnesota, which
allowed Detroit to go 2-for-5 on the power play.
"You're looking at the goals, which one could you fault him on?" Wild coach
Mike Yeo said of his netminder. "There are times the puck goes in the net and
there's nothing you can do."
Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon missed Friday's game with a foot injury and is
expected to miss Sunday's test as well.
Minnesota and the Blues split four meetings in 2011-12, but the Wild have
taken six of nine overall in this series. St. Louis has claimed two straight
and six of the previous eight meetings at Scottrade Center.
The Sports Network