With the playoffs looming, the Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] (45-23-12) will sit out some key stars tonight on the road against the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues] (34-33-12). Minnesota sat out a few key guys [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/wild-sit-out-spurgeon-zuccarello-and-eriksson-ek-vs-nashville] in its last game against the Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] and will do the same tonight. The Wild will rest Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, Mats Zuccarello, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Joel Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy and Marcus Foligno. Tonight will be Filip Gustavsson's net. Gustavsson is 28-14-6 on the season with a 2.64 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage in 49 games this year. He is 2-3-0 in his last five games and has allowed four or more goals in four of the five games. But Gustavsson is 1-1-0 with a 1.01 goals-against average, .959 save percentage and one shutout in two games against the Blues this season. Gustavsson, 27, is 5-3-0 with a 2.29 goals-against average, a .918 save percentage and one shutout in nine career starts vs. the Blues. The youngster Joel Hofer will be in between the pipes tonight for the Blues. He is 22-13-5 on the year with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage with six shutouts. Hofer, 25, saved 22-of-23 shots faced to earn the win in the second matchup between the Wild and the Blues this year. He is 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage in two starts against the Wild in his career. This will be a big start for Gustavsson heading into the playoffs. The Wild have two games left before they open round one in Dallas. Minnesota plays tomorrow, so tonight will likely be Gustavsson's last start and he needs to have a good one or it make might John Hynes' decision easy come playoffs who starts. For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free [https://thehockeynews.store/products/print-subscription?_gl=1*100me45*_ga*MTA5MzI2ODIxLjE3NjUzMjk0MDY.*_ga_ZET34ZFCGX*czE3NjkwMDM1NTMkbzE2MiRnMSR0MTc2OTAwNjQyNiRqNTYkbDAkaDA.]. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com. RECENT WILD STORIES Wild’s Game 1 Starter No Longer Obvious Amid Gustavsson’s Slide, Wallstedt's Push [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/48103389-6685-4832-bc22-ef64c8cd13d5.jpeg] Wild’s Game 1 Starter No Longer Obvious Amid Gustavsson’s Slide, Wallstedt's Push The Wild’s Game 1 starter against Dallas was once a formality. Now, Filip Gustavsson’s late-season struggles and Jesper Wallstedt’s surge have turned it into a defining playoff decision for Minnesota. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/wild-s-game-1-starter-no-longer-obvious-amid-gustavsson-s-struggles] - Wild Are Back In The Playoffs On An NHL Record Run. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/minnesota-wild-clinch-playoffs-adding-to-nhl-best-run-of-postseason-appearances] - Wild Sign Top Prospect Charlie Stramel To A Three-Year Entry-Level Deal. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/wild-sign-top-prospect-charlie-stramel-to-an-entry-level-deal] - Wild's Brock Faber Breaks Franchise Record For A Defenseman. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/brock-faber-sets-minnesota-wild-franschise-record] - Wild's Vladimir Tarasenko Has Rediscovered His Scoring Prowess. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/he-s-a-really-smart-player-vladimir-tarasenko-has-rediscovered-his-scoring-prowess] - Yakov Trenin Breaks Minnesota Wild Single-Season Hits Record. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/latest-news/yakov-trenin-breaks-minnesota-wild-single-season-hits-record]
