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ST. LOUIS -- Special teams figure to be a factor as the St. Louis Blues kick off a five-game homestand against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday night in a game between two hot teams.The Blues enter the matchup with 247 penalty minutes, fourth most in the NHL. St. Louis had four penalties in the first period in its 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday that snapped its four-game winning streak.The extended penalty kill time took a toll on the Blues physically and made it impossible to get into an offensive rhythm as St. Louis managed a season-low two shots in the first period at Washington.Its tough when you take I think four in the first, Blues center Robby Fabbri told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. A lot of our best players are on the PK and then playing five-on-five as well. It was a little bit of a slow start, which kind of killed us at the beginning and we picked it up a little too late.The Blues saving grace is that they are third in the NHL on the penalty kill at 88.1 percent. However, St. Louis has been short-handed 34 more times than Carolina and San Jose, the top two penalty kill teams.Thats a discipline problem, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock told the Post-Dispatch. Its not role players that are doing it. Were having the same people hurt us, taking penalties. It puts it in our hands; well have to do something.The question is, can the Wild take advantage? Minnesota was just 9 of 57 (15.8 percent) on the power play this season, 20th overall in the NHL, entering its Friday night game against Pittsburgh. But the Wild scored three times with the man advantage in a 6-2 win over the Penguins.I hope its something we can improve on and keep working at, Wild left winger Zach Parise told NHL.com. Thats such a big part of the game for us. Again, when you can get one on the power play, its hard to score five-on-five, so when you can get one on the power play, its amazing what it does for the team and the guys as individuals.Minnesota, who is kicking off a five-game road trip, enters the game a winner of its last two after beating Winnipeg and Pittsburgh at home.Parise and defenseman Jonas Brodin each have two goals in the Wilds last two games. The Wilds offense has come alive, scoring nine goals during that stretch, after scoring just nine goals in their previous six games.Hes skating extremely well, I think, and hes just brimming with confidence right now, Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said of Brodin to NHL.com. Hes got a lot of ability and his shot is a rocket.Blues right winger Vladimir Tarasenko leads the team with nine goals and is coming off a two-goal performance at Washington.St. Louis could be getting healthier as left winger Alexander Steen skated with the team on Friday for the first time since suffering a non-concussion-related upper body injury on Nov. 15 against Buffalo. Steen is not expected to play against the Wild.Adidas NHL Jerseys Outlet . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. http://www.wholesalejerseysnhl.com/ . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Hockey Jerseys Cheap Online .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St.South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has been found guilty of ball-tampering during the second Test against Australia in Hobart.The batsman was charged by the ICC last week, with the governing body saying at the time that television footage had appeared to show him applying saliva and residue from a mint or sweet, an artificial substance, to the ball in an attempt to change its condition during the fourth day. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! The 32-year-old, who pleaded not guilty, has been fined 100 per cent of his match fee by match referee Andy Pycroft, but remains free to free to play in the third Test in Adelaide that starts this week. The decision was based on the evidence given from the umpires, who confirmed that had they seen the incident they would have taken action immediately, an ICC statement said. There was a confrontation between a reporter and a South Africa cricket team security guard at Adelaide Airport before the third test with Australia. And from (Marylebone Cricket Club head of cricket John) Stephenson, who confirmed the view of MCC that the television footage showed an artificial substance being transferred to the ball.The row, dubbeed Mintgate, has proved divisive and an Australian TV reporter scuffled with South Africas team security when he tried to question Du Plessis on Monday.dddddddddddd The whole South Africa squad held a news conference together to show support for captain Faf du Plessis It is the second time Du Plessis, who intends to appeal against the verdict, has been fined for ball-tampering, after he was docked 50 per cent of his match fee in 2013 in the second Test against Pakistan.But Pycroft said it was treated as a first offence under the version of the ICCs code of conduct that came into force in September. South Africa and Australias cricketers react to Faf du Plessis ball-tampering incident. As well as the fine, Du Plessis had three demerit points added to his disciplinary record. If he collects another point within 24 months, they will be converted to suspension points and he will be banned.Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first for the player.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4!Also See:WATCH: Proteas airport fracasAbbott clinches series for SA ' ' '