Welcome to NHL Picks where CBSSports.com hockey writers Chris Peters and Adam Gretz make their predictions for all of the days games. at , 8 p.m. ET, NBCSN There probably isnt a better way to end the week that was with a little bit of divisional rivalry action. The Blues and Wild will meet in a Sunday nightcap and for the final time this season. The two clubs have split the first four games of the season series after their hotly contested playoff series last spring. The Wild are returning to home ice following a two-game road swing to make room for the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament (which is kind of
Connor Murphy Jersey a big deal in that state Hermantown won Cla s 1A and Wayzata won Cla s 2A, if youre wondering). Theyll also return to the Xcel Energy Center on a four-game winning streak following a 3-2 shootout win over the Saturday. The Blues, meanwhile, are coming off of four full days without games
Enrico Ciccone Jersey . Long breaks like that are tough to come by this time of year and sometimes that can work against a team, even one that could use some extra time to get players healthy. The long layoff can get a team out of its routine or knock the rhythm off. Its especially tough when the first game back is against an opponent that is rolling the way the Wild are currently. Under new head coach John Torchetti, the Wild are 8-3-0. They can help strengthen their grip on the last wild card spot in the West with a win in the rubber match against their Central Division foes Sunday, but it wont be easy. Having played a tough game Saturday in Buffalo that went all the way to a shootout could be tough to get right back up and play a stronger and well-rested opponent. The Blues also have the motivation of trying to keep pace with the and atop the Central standings. They currently trail both
Lou Angotti Jersey by two points. Capturing first in that division would be pretty helpful as it likely doubles as the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs and would allow the Blues, or whichever team takes first in the Central, to skip the toughest po sible inter-divisional playoff matchup in the first round. With 16 games to go for both teams, the points are harder to come by and as important as ever in these tight races as the Blues gun for first and the Wild look to maintain a hold on their wild card position with the just two points back. Unfortunately for the Blues, their most productive player in this series is on the sidelines. Alex Steen, who has had five points over the first four games of this season series to date, is sitting out with an arm injury as he has since Feb. 20. St. Louis has seemingly dealt with injuries all year long and its a testament to their depth that theyve been able to stay in the hunt for first in the toughest division in the league. Part of that has been due to the strong play of the Blues goaltenders over various stretches
Jason Dickinson Jersey of the season. is expected to start as Brian Elliott remains injured. Allen is carrying a .922 save percentage, but is 1-2-0 against the Wild this season. On the other side, may get the nod after started Saturdays game against the Sabres. The Wild backup has a .918 save percentage this year and has not played against the Blues yet this season. If the Wild decide to go with Dubnyk, hell bring a 2-1-1 record and .914 save percentage against St. Louis this season into the contest. Another Wild player to watch in this game is . He has four points against the Blues this season and eclipsed the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career earlier this week. Hes had six goals in the 11 games since Torchetti took over. The same goes for , who has 12 points over
Tom Lysiak Jersey the last 11 games and netted the shootout winner over the Sabres Saturday. This game is a tough one to call, seeing as these teams have traded wins and come into the game under very different circumstances. Normally, Id think the more rested team is the more likely to win, but with the way the Wild are playing right now, theyre going to be tough to slow down on home ice. Pick: Wild 3, Blues 2 The Blues and Wild square off in a big Central tilt Sunday. (USATSI) The rest of Sundays picks Chicago Blackhawks 4, 2 Dallas Stars 4, 3 3, 1 4, 2 3, 2
