Wild Skate Past St. Louis Wednesday

The Wild improved to 4-1 in preseason play with a 3-1 win over St. Louis Wednesday night at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota has just one remaining tune-up game before the regular season begins.

Matt Cooke got the Wild on the board at 11:27 of the first period, then Charlie Coyle and Torrey Mitchell each scored goals early in the third period for a 3-0 Minnesota lead.

Niklas Backstom made 33 saves in the game for the Wild, but lost the shutout halfway through the third when Jaden Schwartz scored a short-handed goal for the Blues.

The preseason finale for Minnesota is Thursday's game at St. Louis. The Wild open the regular season October 3rd.