Blues face key home showdown with Wild

Hockey Betting Lines

02/18/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The St. Louis Blues have a chance to move closer towards playoff contention when the improving club hosts the Minnesota Wild tonight at the Scottrade Center.

The Blues still remain far out of the postseason race, but can pull within 10 points of Minnesota, which currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with a victory this evening.

St. Louis will also attempt to extend its win streak to three games and is coming off an outstanding defensive effort. Manny Legace needed to make only 19 saves to register his fifth shutout of the season as the Blues blanked the potent Nashville Predators, 1-0, Friday at the Scottrade Center.

Bill Guerin scored the game's only goal on a brilliant move in the final minute of the second period as St. Louis finally ended a 14-game losing streak against Nashville. The Blues had not beaten the Predators since April 3, 2004.

Guerin's tally was his fifth in the last three games and the All-Star forward has amassed six goals and two assists during a five-game scoring streak.

St. Louis will now try to end its recent struggles against the Wild, who have won six of their last seven matchups with the Blues. In the only meeting between the clubs this season, Minnesota skated away with a 5-2 road victory on January 30.

The Blues, who own a 13-15-3 mark as the host, will be playing the second test of a three-game homestand. St. Louis finishes out the stretch Tuesday against Columbus.

Minnesota also comes in off a big win over Nashville, as the Wild spoiled Peter Forsberg's debut in a Predators' uniform with a 4-1 triumph Saturday at Gaylord Entertainment Center.

The Wild snapped a 1-1 deadlock with three third-period goals. Marian Gaborik had the go-ahead marker with 8:01 left to play, while linemate Pavol Demitra scored once and assisted on Gaborik's tally.

The Slovakian duo has been on a scoring tear as of late. Gaborik has racked up 14 goals and eight assists over his last 16 outings, while Demitra, who played eight seasons with St. Louis from 1997-04, has amassed 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) during a current eight-game scoring streak.

Brian Rolston finished with a pair of assists and Niklas Backstrom stopped 25- of-26 shots for Minnesota, which has won three of its last four and pulled within a point of Calgary and Vancouver for first place in the Northwest Division.

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