*10* ANNIHILATOR on St. Louis Blues.

THe Minnesota Wild will open a four-game road-trip with a visit to Scottrade Center and the St. Louis Blues on New Years' Eve. The teams have split two meetings already this season with the home-team prevailing in each contest, and I think that's a trend likely to continue tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Goaltending - The Blues' Jake Allen has gone 7-2-0 with a 1.76 GAA in his last nine starts, and he's posted a 1.95 GAA over 17 appearances home at St. Louis this season. The Wild's Devan Dubnyk held the Red Wings to one goal on 29 shots Monday, but he had conceded a total of 10 goals in his last three starts prior and he's 3-8-1 with a 3.79 GAA in 12 career starts against St. Louis.

2. Road Woes - Minnesota is a very mediocre 5-5-5 on the road this season with an average of 2.33 goals scored which can be compared to its 2.71 mark overall this season. It has won only three of the last 11 meetings at Scottrade Center.

3. X-Factor - St. Louis has won four straight at home and 52 of its last 62 home games against a team with a road winning % of less than .400.

Selection: This is a play on the St. Louis Blues (10*)