Dec 3, 2008 - 8:55 AM
0 shoutsSt. Louis (10-10-2) at Minnesota (14-8-1) 8:00 p.m. EST
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- Defense has been the calling card of the Minnesota Wild this season but it seems to have abandoned them of late.
The Wild will be looking to bounce back from their worst defensive performance of the season when they host the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
Minnesota had allowed four goals in a game only three times this season before a 6-5 setback against Colorado on Monday. Starting goaltender Niklas Backstrom allowed six goals on 26 shots before being pulled after two periods.
Despite the ugly loss, the Wild still lead the NHL in goals allowed with 53 in 23 games and their penalty killing unit ranks second in the league with an 88.8 conversion rate.
Minnesota has also been finding its groove offensively, totaling 15 goals over the last three games and averaging 4.4 goals in the last five contests. Pierre-Marc Bouchard has three goals in the last two games after going nine games straight without a tally.
The Blues are coming off a 4-2 win at Atlanta which snapped a two-game slide. Brad Boyes tallied in the win and has four goals in the last five games.
Keith Tkachuk collected his 1,000th career point on a goal in the second period against the Thrashers.
From the Bleachers
-
ST. LOUIS: 0
MINNESOTA: 4
Final
Dec 3 10:27 PM -
NHL
ST LOUIS 0
MINNESOTA 4
3RD PRD: MIN - (EN) ANTTI MIETTINEN 7 (ERIC BELANGER) 19:32
Dec 3 10:26 PM -
NHL
ST LOUIS 0
MINNESOTA 3
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) MAREK ZIDLICKY 4 (UNASSISTED) 5:14
Dec 3 10:00 PM -
NHL
ST LOUIS 0
MINNESOTA 2
3RD PRD: MIN - (PP) ANDREW BRUNETTE 9 (MAREK ZIDLICKY, MARC-ANDRE
BERGERON) 2:54
Dec 3 9:56 PM -
ST. LOUIS: 0
MINNESOTA: 1
End of 2nd
Dec 3 9:32 PM -
NHL
ST LOUIS 0
MINNESOTA 1
2ND PRD: MIN - ERIC BELANGER 7 (UNASSISTED) 10:28
Dec 3 9:19 PM -
ST. LOUIS: 0
MINNESOTA: 0
End of 1st
Dec 3 8:40 PM
