If there's kryptonite that affects Minnesota Wild star goaltender Devan Dubnyk, it might be in the form of the St. Louis Blues.
On Sunday afternoon, Dubnyk and the Wild get their third crack at the Blues this season and are still looking for their first win. Dubnyk is the hottest goalie in the league of late, leading the NHL in all major statistical categories. But in 17 career starts against the Blues, he is 4-11-2 with a 3.58 goals-against average and .883 save percentage.
The Blues come to Minnesota with a 3-1-1 record in December and in the midst of a four-game road trip. They are coming off a 4-1 victory in New Jersey on Friday night which saw defenseman Brad Hunt make his season debut for St. Louis.
Hunt was leading the AHL offensively with 29 points in 23 games. He's likely to stick with the Blues until they get healthier, with defensemen Carl Gunnarson missing the last game with a lower-body injury, and Robert Bortuzzo expected to miss the next six weeks with the same ailment.
The knock on Hunt is his size, but at 5-9, 185 pounds, the Blues hierarchy said he compares favorably to one of the Minnesota blueliners he will face on Sunday.
"He's taller than (Minnesota's Jared) Spurgeon, and everybody in our league would like Jared," Blue coach Ken Hitchcock said after the New Jersey game, praising his team for their physical play. "We played the game that we're capable of and we had everybody dug in, playing the same way and we scored goals. The harder we check as a team, the more we score."
The Blues' three-goal final margin versus the Devils would be a noteworthy cushion for the Wild, who have played six consecutive one-goal games.
"All the games are like this. How many times have we had more than a one-goal game? I don't remember," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said after his team eked out a 3-2 shootout victory over Edmonton on Friday.
While he'd certainly like his team to find more breathing room, Boudreau likes the demeanor in stressful situations that his team is learning in his first season in Minnesota.
"But if anything, it teaches you how to be calm in a one-goal game, whether you're up a goal or down a goal, whether you're pushing or protecting," Boudreau said. "So, I mean, I think it's good experience and good help for everyone."
While the Blues are dealing with a banged-up blue line, Minnesota looks to be getting healthier. They've played six games without Christian Folin, who is dealing with a lower-body injury. Folin, though, began skating in practice and participated in warm-ups prior to the Edmonton game. It's a good bet he will be back on the ice to face the Blues.
It will also mark Mike Yeo's return to Xcel Energy Center for the first time since the Wild fired him last February. Yeo was Minnesota's coach for four full seasons, and is now Hitchcock's top assistant in St. Louis.
Blues • The Blues continue their four-game trip in Minnesota, an opponent they’ve beaten twice in St. Louis this season. The club is 4-7-1 on the road following Friday’s 4-1 win in New Jersey. ... Vladimir Tarasenko had three assists against the Devils and ranked third in the league in points (31) heading into Saturday’s games. He has 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in his last 17 games. ... Robby Fabbri has eight goals in his last 15 games after scoring none in the first 12 games of the season.
Wild • Minnesota enters Sunday’s game in third place in the Central Division, trailing the second-place Blues by four points (36-32). The Wild have won three straight games, including two over Edmonton, and will have a chance Sunday for their first four-game winning streak of the season. The club has a point in eight of its last nine games, with a record of 5-1-3 in that stretch. ... Goalie Devan Dubnyk leads the NHL in goals-against average (1.66), save percentage (.946) and shutouts (four).
Injuries • Blues — D Carl Gunnarsson (lower body), questionable; D Robert Bortuzzo (lower body), out. Wild — D Christian Folin (knee), questionable; C Zac Dalpe (knee), out.
Matchup
The Blues will look to make it back-to-back road wins for the first time this season when they visit the Minnesota Wild tonight. The Blues are 2-0-0 vs. the Wild this season, including a 4-3 shootout win on Nov. 26 at Scottrade Center, most recently. Overall, the Blues have won four straight against the Wild, including a 4-2 win in their last trip to St. Paul. St. Louis is 6-2-2 against Central Division competition this season, including a 3-0-1 mark in their last four.
What to Watch
Vladimir Tarasenko is coming off a three assist night in New Jersey that extended his road point streak to a career-best six games. During that span, Tarasenko has racked-up three goals and nine assists and now boasts a 1.42 road points per game average that is second only to Sidney Crosby's 1.55 this season. Robby Fabbri is also on fire as of late, posting three of his four multi-point games this season over his last five outings.
Milestones
Alexander Steen (221) is one assist shy of passing Pierre Turgeon (221) for 9th on the Blues' all-time assists list among forwards. Steen also is two shy of 300 career assists and three shy of 500 career points.
Alex Pietrangelo (214) is one assist shy of passing Jeff Brown (214) for 4th on the Blues' all-time assist list among defensemen
Vladimir Tarasenko - 2 shy of 100 career PIM
Jori Lehtera - 2 shy of 100 career PIM
Kyle Brodziak - 7 shy of 400 career PIM
Quick Hits
Alexander Steen has points in five straight games against the Wild (three goals, three assists)
The Blues scored their League-leading third 5-on-3 power play goal of the season on Friday in New Jersey
The Blues rank second overall with an 87.4 percent penalty kill this season
After his eight shot performance on Friday in New Jersey, Vladimir Tarasenko (103) became the fourth player to reach 100 shots on goal this season
This day in history:
1973 Garry Unger scores a hat trick and Glen Sather has a 5 point night (1G 4A) as Blues beat Toronto 7-3.
1985 NHL Record 62 points scored in single game, Edmonton (36) beats Chicago (26) 12-9 & ties record of 21 goals
1991 Brendan Shanahan scored his 100th career goal with 2 goals and 1 assist as the Blues defeated Buffalo 6-3. Guy Hebert made his NHL debut in this game earning his first win
1996 Al MacInnis scores a natural hat trick, but Blues give up 4-0 lead resulting in a 5-5 tie with Dallas Stars
2006 Mike Kitchen fired and Andy Murray hired
