By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Minnesota is 8-2 in its last 10 games, but had allowed only 13 goals in the previous nine. This was the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home series against St. Louis, with the teams meeting again Saturday night at Minnesota.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns also scored in the shootout, while T.J. Oshie, Brad Boyes and Alex Steen scored for the Blues. Madden scored on a backhander, and Theodore stopped Vladimir Sobotka to decide it.
"I was impressed with the way we came back every single time," coach Todd Richards said. "This isn't an easy place to play. I liked the way we played, I like the way we competed."
Theodore made must saves on McDonald, Matt D'Agostini, Backes, Erik Johnson and Patrik Berglund in the shootout before foiling Vladimir Sobotka to clinch it.
"Three shots, they had two goals," Theodore said. "Then after that, I adjusted a few things, my timing and everything. After that, I felt pretty solid."
Madden beat Halak with a backhander.
"I really didn't want to deke because the ice conditions were so bad," Madden said. "I saw the puck roll on several guys on both teams. But you go with what you've got."
Backes leads St. Louis with a career-best 20 goals, four of them in the last three games. The Blues' top line of Backes, McDonald and Boyes has 13 points in the last four games.
Clutterbuck leads the Wild with 16 goals, the second coming easy to tie it at 3 after Halak flubbed a clearing attempt behind the net at 41 seconds of the third period. It came only 22 seconds after Backes scored on a 2-on-1 break.
NOTES: Blues D Carlo Colaiacovo wore a helmet with full cage in his first game back from a seven-game absence after taking a puck to the eye. He played 16:41. ... McDonald has four points in four games back from a concussion that sidelined him for 24 games. ... The Wild are 16-9-3 on the road, among the best in the NHL.
Updated February 11, 2011
