Predators and Wild Each Win Fifth Straight

Eric Staal had a hat trick and added two assists for a five point game as the Minnesota Wild drubbed the St. Louis Blues 8-3 in St. Paul on February 27th. The veteran center now has 33 goals and 31 assists this season, and he was especially hot in February. Staal scored 13 goals and had eight assists in the Wilds’ 13 games during the month. Jason Zucker had four assists and a goal, and Mikael Granlund had a pair of goals and a pair of assists. The Staal–Zucker–Granlund line was just instituted three games ago, and has accounted for a total of 26 points in those contests. Good move.

Minnesota won its fifth straight game and is 7-1-2 over its last 10, improving to 36-20-7 (79 points) on the season. The Wild are especially tough to beat at home, with a record of 22-5-6. They are a very average 14-15-1 on the road, which could be an issue in the post season. Minnesota is in third place in the NHL Central behind Nashville (87 points) and Winnipeg (83 points). The Blues dropped their seventh straight.

Speaking of Nashville and Winnipeg, the two top teams in the Central played an exciting game against each other in Winnipeg on the 27th. The Predators scored the last three goals of the game for a 6-5 comeback victory over the Jets. Roman Josi had five assists for Nashville, and Craig Smith scored two goals. Ryan Hartman, in his first game since being acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline, scored the game winner with a minute left . Winnipeg’s newest player also had a big game in his debut with the Jets. Center Paul Stastny, picked up at the deadline from the sinking St. Louis Blues, had a goal and an assist.