Dallas Stars' forward Roope Hintz is sidelined for the second straight game due to an upper-body injury. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild welcomed back defenseman Brock Faber after a four-game absence caused by an upper-body injury. Wild's forward Jakub Lauko has also returned from a lower-body injury.

In other injury news, New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen resumed play after missing two games due to illness, while Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild missed a match because of illness as well.

On the injury front, Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov was transferred from IR to LTIR and isn't on the road trip, but he is eligible to return soon. Wild head coach John Hynes noted Kaprizov's recovery has taken longer than expected but is on track.

The Minnesota Wild faced off against the Nashville Predators on Saturday night, quickly transforming the ice into a battleground with three fights within the opening minutes of the game. The first fight erupted between Nashville's Zachary L'Heureux and Minnesota's Yakov Trenin, a rematch sparked by previous tensions and injuries. Just moments later, Wild's Marcus Foligno engaged with Luke Schenn. Foligno's motivation was fueled by L'Heureux's slew-footing of Jared Spurgeon, who has been sidelined for several games.

Despite their aggressive start, the Wild's energy seemed to wane as the game progressed. Nashville capitalized on this, taking a commanding 4-1 lead in the second period with goals from Colton Sissons and Filip Forsberg, further extending their advantage with additional goals from Steven Stamkos and Fedor Svechkov. The Predators, who have struggled this season, managed to turn the tide and secure a critical victory over the Wild.

Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars is in recovery after hip surgery, sidelining him for 4 to 6 months. This has raised questions about his status on regular injured reserve, which currently frees up a roster spot but does not allow the team to benefit from long-term injured reserve (LTIR) cap space. The Stars are weighing their options with the upcoming March 7 NHL trade deadline approaching.

The decision on whether to place Seguin on LTIR is strategic, as doing so would provide significant cap space but also prevent the accrual of further cap room. As of now, the Stars have utilized their existing cap space effectively without needing to make immediate transactions involving Seguin's salary.

With a cap hit of $9.85 million, Seguin's absence opens financial flexibility for the Stars, potentially allowing them to make significant trades. However, they must navigate high prices in the trade market while managing their roster effectively. The Stars' assistant general manager highlighted that even with cap space, acquiring players isn't guaranteed, as market dynamics play a crucial role.

In an exciting matchup on Friday night, the St. Louis Blues triumphed over the Nashville Predators with a decisive 7-4 victory. Robert Thomas was the standout player, netting two goals, while Jordan Kyrou contributed with a goal and an assist. The Blues' offense was further bolstered by Cam Fowler, who added a goal and two assists, and other contributors like Zack Bolduc, Philip Broberg, and Colton Parayko, who also found the back of the net. Dylan Holloway assisted on two goals, showcasing the team's strong collaborative effort.

The Predators struggled defensively, with Juuse Saros being pulled from the game after allowing five goals on just 15 shots. Nashville's offense included goals from Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, each contributing a goal and an assist, while Mark Jankowski and Nick Blankenburg added to the scoreline. The game saw Thomas open the scoring early, and he later scored on a power play, further solidifying his role as a key player for the Blues.

Key moments included Fowler's slap shot that gave St. Louis a 4-2 lead, marking his first goal of the season since being acquired from Anaheim. Notably, Thomas has been on a scoring spree, accumulating 18 points over his last 12 games. The Blues are looking to maintain their momentum as they prepare to host the Buffalo Sabres, while the Predators will aim to bounce back in their upcoming game against Winnipeg.

The St. Louis Blues showcased an impressive offensive performance as they triumphed over the Nashville Predators with a score of 7-4. Robert Thomas was the standout player for the Blues, netting two goals, while Jordan Kyrou contributed significantly with a goal and an assist. The Blues' goalkeeper, Joel Hofer, made 26 saves to help secure the victory, and defenseman Cam Fowler also made his mark with a goal and two assists.

In addition to Thomas, other Blues players who found the back of the net included Zack Bolduc, Philip Broberg, and Colton Parayko, with Dylan Holloway providing two assists. The game began with a quick strike from Thomas, who capitalized on a turnover by Gustav Nyquist just 1:20 into the match. Bolduc quickly followed up with another goal, giving St. Louis a commanding lead early in the game.

On the opposing side, the Predators saw contributions from Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, who each scored a goal and added an assist. Mark Jankowski and Nick Blankenburg also managed to score for Nashville. However, the Predators struggled defensively, as goalie Juuse Saros was pulled in the second period after conceding five goals on just 15 shots. Thomas's second goal, scored on a power play in the third period, further solidified the Blues' advantage, and Parayko sealed the deal with an empty-net goal.