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Blues take on Wild seeking to extend home point streak

Jan 14, 2012 - 5:07 PM (Sports Network) - It took what Blues All-Star goaltender Brian Elliott called a "perfect storm" for his club to suffer a rare loss at home.

After having a four-game win streak snapped last time out, St. Louis looks to extend its string of 11 straight home contests with a point as it battles the struggling Minnesota Wild.

The NHL leader with 17 home wins, the Blues opened up a five-game residency on Thursday and were dealt a 3-2 setback in overtime by the Canucks. St. Louis went into the extra frame down a man due to David Backes' boarding penalty with 20 seconds left in regulation and also saw defenseman Roman Polak break his stick during the kill.

That opened up room for the Sedin brothers, with Henrik feeding Daniel for a one-timer past Elliott, who ended with 18 saves.

"It came down to a penalty at the end and we lose our stick," Elliot said. "It seemed like a perfect storm, but I have to make that save to give us a chance."

Jason Arnott had both regulation goals for the Blues and has scored in three straight games, while defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has eight points over a career-high five-game point streak. Still, St. Louis fell to 9-0-2 in its last 11 at home and a point behind Chicago for first place in the Central Division.

Though closing in on a return after missing seven games in a row due to concussion-like symptoms, forward Alex Steen won't play tonight. Barret Jackman, meanwhile, is a game-time decision due to a hip injury that held him out of Thursday's game.

Once the NHL leader in points not too long ago, the Wild continued their fall down the standings with Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks, who pulled away with a three-goal second period.

After missing one game for breaking team rules, Devin Setoguchi returned to score a goal, as did Kyle Brodziak. With No. 1 goaltender Niklas Backstrom ill, Josh Harding allowed four goals on 21 shots in 36 minutes of action before being replaced by Matt Hackett. He stopped all eight shots faced the rest of the way.

Minnesota fell to 2-9-3 in its past 14 games after showing some positive signs in Tuesday's shootout win over San Jose.

"A step back from last game, that's for sure," said Wild head coach Mike Yeo. "Not happy with that one.

"[The spark from last game] was there for the first seven minutes and then we started to turn pucks over like crazy and everything we needed to do to win this game, we didn't do."

Minnesota also suffered its eighth straight loss on the road in the opener of a four-game swing and is tied for the seventh spot in the conference with 50 points.

The Wild have won three straight and six of their last seven versus the Blues. Minnesota will make its first trip of the season to St. Louis, where it has won two straight shootout decisions following a four-game series road losing streak.