Big Weekend For Blues

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The Blues begin a busy weekend at home tonight in a 7:00 drop-of-the-puck against Minnesota. Dallas will make a trip in tomorrow evening, as well.

The Note is still looking for its first regular season victory at Scottrade Center following losses to Atlanta and Los Angeles earlier this month. Andy Murray's team will play five-of-its-next-six at home following a three-game road trip that included a win and two losses.

The Wild (2-6) come in this evening still seeking their first win this season away from St. Paul. Offseason free agent signing Martin Havlat has yet to heat up his scoring touch only tallying once in six games. Havlat recently missed a pair of games with a groin injury. Netminder and 2009 Vezina Trophy finalist Niklas Backstrom has an impressive .918 save-percentage despite a 2-4-0 win-loss record. While the Wild haven't torn it up 5-on-5 this year their special teams have been very good. Rookie head coach Todd Richards' PP is 10th in the league and has successfully converted 10-of-40 power plays. The Wild PK is exactly where it was at the end of last season, 2nd overall.

The Stars (4-2-4) have racked up a lot of points but have played more games than most teams, so far. Like the Blues, Dallas' special teams have struggled. The Stars' power play and penalty killing units are both ranked below the NHL's top 20. The Blues PP is 12th overall while the PK is 17th after allowing a man-advantage goal in every game except last Saturday's 5-0 victory in Anaheim.

How important will it be for the Blues to start strong?...something they haven't done much in their first seven games? Score early and often. The Note has only put four first period pucks in the net. Two have come from Keith Tkachuk and Jay McClement and Patrik Berglund have the others.

TPC