by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Apr 15, 2022
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO
Where to watch: ABC, ESPN+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Even
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Even
Season record
Wild: 46-21-6
Blues: 44-20-10
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Wild - Blues preview and analysis
Well, this game suddenly has more to play for than we initially anticipated. The winner takes over the lead for second place in the Central Division, setting up the high possibility that the loser will need to play four games on the road in the other’s barn.
The reason why no one actually expected this game to mean much, and no disrespect to the St. Louis Blues, but expecting them to win seven in a row and close in on what could be a strong run to the postseason was not expected. Especially when trying to figure out what to do with the goalie situation and understanding both are playing extremely well right now.
And I think most of us looked at the Minnesota Wild from earlier this year and wondered why they haven’t fully taken control of the situation, but it looks to be that way now with Marc-Andre Fleury in goal.
The teams will meet on Saturday in what should be, unless things drastically fall off with either of these two to open the door for the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars to take the reins in the Central Division.
The Blues reached seven straight wins on Thursday on the road in Buffalo with a 6-2 win over the Sabres. Outside of Owen Power recording his first NHL point, this night belonged to Vladimir Tarasenko with a hat trick to go along with two assists. Remember the time Tarasenko almost ended up in Seattle via expansion draft?
I don’t think it’s often that a team doesn’t wish it pulled the chair out underneath someone they wanted to trade – hello, Evgenii Dadonov – but St. Louis has found that right recipe at the right time. Tarasenko leads the team with 31 goals and 72 points.
Tarasenko wasn’t the only one to have a five-point night; Robert Thomas collected five assists , as well.
"It's pretty cool," Thomas said of the milestone. "I think the most important thing is just getting the team in shape for the playoffs. They're coming right around the corner. Every win means so much, especially when home ice is on the line."
And that’s essentially what the Blues and Wild will be playing for. Once upon a time, it looked like Minnesota would eventually run away with this and even win the Presidents Trophy. But that’s why they play 82 games in the season, to make it more enticing as the days go on.
The Wild are coming off a 3-2 overtime victory against the Dallas Stars in which Freddie Gaudreau scored the game-winning goal off a primary assist by Marc-Andre Fleury because life is funny and we need a Vegas-Minnesota conference final for the love of everything in this world.
"I saw him out of the corner of my eye, he was still sitting back a bit," Fleury said. "I guess it was the French sense. I just tried to go around their forechecker, they were coming in pretty hard. But [Gaudreau] made an awesome play to get that goal."
Prediction
I have no idea how to read into the goalie situation with this game. It could very well be Fleury again facing Ville Husso, or Jordan Binnington gets the call again after a strong effort in Buffalo. I have no idea how to read into it, but the fact that it’s in St. Louis needs to be a better output for Minnesota. No one can afford to lose this game, and by that logic you take the home team. Blues win 4-3
Betting trends
Wild are 13-6 this season after winning three of four.
Wild are 15-6 this season after playing a division game.
Blues are 14-8 against division opponents this season.
Projected lines
Wild:
Kirill Kaprizov -- Ryan Hartman -- Mats Zuccarello
Matt Boldy -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Kevin Fiala
Tyson Jost -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Marcus Foligno
Brandon Duhaime -- Nick Bjugstad -- Nicolas Deslauriers
Jacob Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Matt Dumba
Jordie Benn -- Alex Goligoski
Marc-Andre Fleury
Kirill Kaprizov -- Ryan Hartman -- Mats Zuccarello
Matt Boldy -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Kevin Fiala
Tyson Jost -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Marcus Foligno
Brandon Duhaime -- Nick Bjugstad -- Nicolas Deslauriers
Jacob Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Matt Dumba
Jordie Benn -- Alex Goligoski
Marc-Andre Fleury
Blues:
Brandon Saad -- Ryan O'Reilly -- David Perron
Pavel Buchnevich -- Robert Thomas -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Ivan Barbashev -- Brayden Schenn -- Jordan Kyrou
Alexei Toropchenko -- Logan Brown -- Nathan Walker
Marco Scandella -- Colton Parayko
Nick Leddy -- Justin Faulk
Torey Krug -- Robert Bortuzzo
Ville Husso
Brandon Saad -- Ryan O'Reilly -- David Perron
Pavel Buchnevich -- Robert Thomas -- Vladimir Tarasenko
Ivan Barbashev -- Brayden Schenn -- Jordan Kyrou
Alexei Toropchenko -- Logan Brown -- Nathan Walker
Marco Scandella -- Colton Parayko
Nick Leddy -- Justin Faulk
Torey Krug -- Robert Bortuzzo
Ville Husso
Statistical leaders
Wild:
Points: Kirill Kaprizov -- 91
Goals: Kirill Kaprizov -- 42
Assists: Mats Zuccarello -- 50
Goalie: Marc-Andre Fleury -- 24-22-5, 2.88 GAA, .910 SV%
Blues:
Points: Vladimir Tarasenko -- 72
Goals: Vladimir Tarasenko -- 31
Assists: Robert Thomas -- 53
Goalie: Ville Husso -- 23-6-5, 2.37 GAA, .925 SV%
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
