Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT)
Venue: Grand Casino Arena (Xcel Energy Center), Saint Paul, Minnesota
TV: ESPN+ / FanDuel Sports Network Midwest / FanDuel Sports Network North
Radio: 101 ESPN (St. Louis) / KFAN 100.3 FM (Minnesota) / SiriusXM NHL / NHL App
Game Context
The Wild hold 3rd in the Central Division and strong positioning in the Western Conference playoff picture with 80 points, aiming to rebound from a recent loss and maintain home dominance. The Blues are 8th in the Central (bottom of the division) with 51 points, well out of contention and struggling particularly on the road (7-17-3 away). This is the second meeting of 2025-26; Minnesota won the opener 5-0 on October 9 in St. Louis (Gustavsson shutout). A Wild win would secure the season series and bolster their push for a higher seed.
Recent Form
Minnesota Wild (4-1-0 in last 5, snapped 6-game win streak):
- L 2-5 at Utah Mammoth (Feb 27) — ended hot streak; Boldy 1G-1A, Kaprizov 1G
- W 5-2 at Colorado (Feb 26) — Gustavsson 44 saves; Boldy 2G-2A, Eriksson Ek 2G (PP)
- W vs. opponent (earlier in streak)
- Strong 9-2-1 in prior 12 games before the loss
Minnesota averages strong offensive output (high GF/G in wins) and elite goaltending when healthy. Home record is excellent at 17-6-7.
St. Louis Blues (1-3-1 in last 5, 4 of last 5 losses):
- L 1-3 vs. New Jersey (Feb 28) — dropped fourth of last five
- W 5-1 vs. Seattle (Feb 26) — rare home win
- Recent road struggles: 2-7-1 in last 10 away, averaging 3.3 GF but allowing 3.5 GA
Blues offense is sputtering (2.58 GF/G season), power play at 17.5%, and defense leaky on the road.
Injury Report
St. Louis Blues
- Robert Thomas (C) — Day-to-Day / IR (leg/personal leave; expected return soon but status uncertain for today; key playmaker)
- Colton Parayko (D) — OUT (back spasms; missed recent games, expected back ~March 4)
Blues missing top center and shutdown defenseman; thin blue line and reduced playmaking.
Minnesota Wild
- Filip Gustavsson (G) — Day-to-Day (illness; 21-9-6, strong .900+ SV% tandem)
- Joel Eriksson Ek (C) — Day-to-Day (face; 17G-25A-42P)
- Jonas Brodin (D) — OUT (lower body; missed 12 games, key minute-eater)
Wild have depth but potential goaltending/forward questions; expect Fleury or backup if Gustavsson sits.
Key Player Matchups
- Top Forward Lines: Jordan Kyrou / Pavel Buchnevich (STL) vs. Kirill Kaprizov / Matt Boldy / Joel Eriksson Ek (MIN, if active) — Kaprizov and Boldy rolling (Boldy on 8-game point streak); Blues rely on Kyrou’s speed but lack Thomas’ setup.
- Goaltending: Jordan Binnington / Joel Hofer (STL, .867-.897 SV%) vs. Filip Gustavsson / Marc-Andre Fleury (MIN) — Minnesota’s tandem has been lights-out; Binnington struggling lately.
- Defense: Blues depleted (no Parayko) vs. Wild’s Letang/Hughes-style mobility (Quinn Hughes noted in previews for points/assists) — Wild should control possession and limit Blues’ rush chances.
- Special Teams — Wild strong on PK and PP (especially with Eriksson Ek); Blues middling PP and vulnerable PK on road.
Series History
- 2025-26 season: Wild lead 1-0 (5-0 win Oct 9 in STL; Gustavsson shutout).
- All-time regular season: Blues slight edge historically (51-36-5-9 or similar per sources), but Wild strong at home (27-15-9 all-time vs. STL at Grand Casino Arena).
- Recent trend: Wild won last meeting convincingly; Blues struggling to score against Minnesota’s structure.
Betting Trends
- Wild heavy home favorites: covering -1.5 in many vs. sub-.500 teams; 17-6-7 home.
- Blues road woes: 10-game road losing streak attempt to snap; 2-7-1 recently away, poor ATS as big dogs.
- Total Under in many Wild home games; Blues low-scoring offense (under 3 GF/G lately).
- Wild 4-1 ATS last 5; Blues lost 4 of last 5 SU.
Game Odds
St. Louis Blues 5.5
Minnesota Wild – 245
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, February 28, 2026
