(My Sportsbook) - The Minnesota Wild will continue a five-game homestand this evening, as they welcome the St. Louis Blues to Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild bring a solid 5-2-1 home mark into tonight's test despite losing the opener of this residency, 3-2, to Vancouver on Thursday. Minnesota was burned by an old ally, as Pavol Demitra had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Demitra had spent the last two seasons with the Wild before signing with Vancouver this past offseason.

Mikko Koivu tallied both goals for the Wild, giving him three tallies in his last two games. However, he has only five points (4 goals, 1 assist) in eight November games after posting 13 (1g, 12a) in nine contests in October.

Niklas Backstrom stopped 24 shots in the loss for the Wild, who had a three- game winning streak stopped. Backstrom still has great numbers at home, going 5-1-1 with a 2.12 goals against average in seven games at Xcel Energy Center this year. Overall, he is 11-4-1 with a 1.99 GAA in 16 games this year.

Backstrom is 3-1-0 with a 2.43 GAA in four career starts versus the Blues.

Though the Wild have won five of six and seven of their last nine against St. Louis, the clubs played in four close matchups a year ago. Three of the four meetings were decided by one goal, while two of Minnesota's three wins came in overtime or a shootout.

The Blues will likely bring tired legs into tonight's game, as each of their last three contests have gone into overtime or a shootout. St. Louis is 2-0-1 in that span, though, after Friday's 3-2 overtime win over Anaheim.

Lee Stempniak had the game-winner, as he slipped a low wrister from the left circle through Ducks netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere 2:39 into the overtime period.

David Backes and Steve Regier also tallied for the Blues, who bested Chicago in overtime last Friday before dropping a shootout to Montreal last Sunday.

The Blues played without Andy McDonald, who will miss the next eight weeks due to a fractured left leg suffered against Chicago. McDonald has six goals and 12 assists for a team-high 18 points in 16 games this season,

Manny Legace made 26 saves for the Blues, who are 2-4-1 on the road this season. The 35-year-old netminder has been in net for each of St. Louis' last five games, meaning he could earn a break tonight.

Legace is 9-4-2 with a 2.63 GAA in 15 career games versus Minnesota, while backup Chris Mason is 1-2-2 with a 4.27 GAA against the club. Mason has still yet to win a game for St. Louis this year, going 0-5-0 with a 3.13 GAA in six games (4 starts).

The Blues have lost seven of their last eight in Minnesota.