Wild Look to Bounce Back Against Struggling Blues
The Minnesota Wild return home to face the St. Louis Blues on Monday, March 2, 2026, following a mixed bag of results after the Olympic break. While Minnesota had been on a hot streak before the games, a recent loss to the Utah Mammoth has them looking to re-establish their dominance at the Xcel Energy Center. The Blues, meanwhile, are firmly entrenched near the bottom of the Western Conference and are unlikely to contend for a playoff spot.
Wild Aim to Regain Momentum
Minnesota currently holds third place in the Western Conference, having won six of their previous seven games before the setback against Utah.1 Despite the 5-2 loss to Utah, the Wild boast a strong home record, winning five of their last six games at the Xcel Energy Center. Coach John Hynes acknowledged the team’s struggles in the recent game, but remains focused on moving forward.1
Key players for the Wild include Kirill Kaprizov, who leads the team in scoring with 33 goals and 40 assists.3 The Wild also feature a strong contingent of Russian forwards, including Kaprizov, Tarasenko, Trenin, and Yurov.
Minnesota will be without Gustavsson, Brodin, and Eriksson for this matchup.1
Blues Face Uphill Battle
The St. Louis Blues face a daunting task, sitting 14 points out of playoff contention. Their recent form has been poor, with four losses in their last five games, including a 3-1 defeat to the New Jersey Devils.1 The Blues have struggled offensively, scoring only 153 goals while conceding 207 this season.
Forwards Buchnevich and Toropchenko lead the Blues’ scoring with a combined 16 goals. St. Louis has been particularly weak on the road, currently on a five-game losing streak away from home.1
Head-to-Head Record
Minnesota has had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning four of the last five games against St. Louis. The total has gone over 5.5 goals in three of those four contests.
Prediction
Given Minnesota’s strong home record and St. Louis’ struggles on the road and overall performance, the Wild are favored to win this matchup. The Wild are expected to capitalize on their home-ice advantage and the Blues’ defensive vulnerabilities. A high-scoring game is also anticipated, with both teams having shown a tendency for games with at least six goals.
Prediction: Minnesota Win + Total Over (5.5)