(My Sportsbook) - When the St. Louis Blues acquired goaltender Chris Osgood from the New York Islanders at the NHL trading deadline, they hoped they had found the man to take them deep into playoffs.

On Wednesday, Osgood continued to make everyone involved in the decision process to bring him to the Gateway City look real good as he stopped 31 shots for his fourth shutout of the season, as the Blues blanked the Minnesota Wild, 1-0, at the Xcel Energy Center.

Cory Stillman scored the game's lone goal for St. Louis, which snapped a two- game slide and moved even with Colorado for the fourth spot in the Western Conference playoff race. The Avs will face off with the LA Kings this evening.

"I wasn't crazy about how we played," said Blues coach Joel Quenneville. "We didn't deserve to win, except for Ozzy taking it for us. Definitely two points that has his name all over them. You can basically thank him for the two points."

Osgood stopped 11 shots in the first period, 14 in the second and needed just six saves in the third to complete the 38th shutout of his career. The 30- year-old netminder was acquired by the Blues from the New York Islanders earlier this month.

"I felt sharp. I've felt really good since I got here," Osgood said. "I got some bounces tonight. I was fortunate a couple of times. It was one of those nights."

Pavol Demitra started the rush that led to the St. Louis goal, breaking down the right side and into the Minnesota zone before firing a pass across to Stillman, who beat Manny Fernandez low and to the glove-side 8:39 into the game. The goal was Stillman's 23rd.

"We caught them on a breakdown, which is rare," Stillman said. "Pavol faked a shot and held the goalie for as long as he could, so when I got the pass I had a wide open net. We're not going to get many two-on-ones on that team."

Al MacInnis, who is making a strong pitch for the Norris Trophy, assisted on Stillman's tally and extended his points streak to five games (0g, 6a). MacInnis leads all NHL blueliners with 65 points (15g, 50a) overall.

There is no rest for the weary, as the Blues get right back at it on Thursday when they start a four-game stretch at home against the Florida Panthers. The Blues have won six of their last seven in the friendly confines of the Savvis Center.

St. Louis defeated Florida, 2-0, in Sunrise on December 22, 2001 and is 6-1-2 in the last nine meetings. The Cats are 0-3-1 in their last four trips to the St. Louis, dating back to November 23, 1996.

WHAT'S AHEAD

In addition to Thursday's tilt with the Panthers, the Blues will get visits from Detroit, Edmonton and Chicago.