Wild gameday
7 P.M. VS. St. Louis • xcel Energy Center • fsn, 100.3 FM
Preview: Two days after becoming the second team in NHL history to overcome a three-goal, third-period deficit to win its first game of the season (at Colorado), the Wild opens the home season. The Wild is 12-0-2 all-time in home openers. It'll be its only home game until Oct. 22 and plays three times in the following 11 days. The Wild knocked off the Blues in six games during last year's Western Conference quarterfinals. This is the first of a six-game road trip for St. Louis..
Players to watch: LW Zach Parise is coming off his third career hat trick. D Ryan Suter recorded his 300th assist in the Colorado win. LW Thomas Vanek, who tied Thursday's game, is a goal from his 300th. LW Jason Zucker will play his 100th game. Blues RW Vladimir Tarasenko, who scored his first goal of the season in Thursday's win over Edmonton, scored six times against the Wild last spring. C Kyle Brodziak, seventh in Wild history with 446 games, returns to Minnesota for the first time. He plays on a line with Ryan Reaves and Steve Ott.
Numbers: The Wild is 16-7-6 all-time vs. the Blues at home. … Parise led the Wild with seven points against the Blues in last year's playoffs.
Injuries: Wild RW Justin Fontaine (oblique) is questionable and C Tyler Graovac (lower body) is doubtful. Blues C Patrik Berglund (shoulder) is out.
michael russo
