Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom can't get to the puck off the stick of St. Louis Blues Vladimir Sobotka of the Czech Republic in overtime at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on January 27, 2013. The goal proved to be the winner with St. Louis on top 5-4.   UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Minnesota Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom can’t get to the puck off the stick off Vladimir Sobotka in overtime at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on January 27, 2013. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Vladimir Sobotka’s tip-in of a Andy McDonald pass gave the Blues a 5-4 win against the Wild on Sunday night at Scottrade Center improving St. Louis to 5-1-0 on the season and keeping pace with the 6-0-0 Chicago Blackhawks for the top spot in the Central Division. It’s the Blues’ best start since the 1997-98 when the Blues began 7-1-0.

It also wrapped up a brutal six games in nine days, one of the more difficult stretches of games in the shortened 48 game season.

It didn’t look good for more than half the game after the Wild took a 3-1 lead at the 13:47 mark of the second period. Blues goalie Brian Elliot looked shaky at times and the Blues were a bit out of sync early on. However, the Blues answered with Patrik Berglund’s third goal just 1:01 later to close the gap to 3-2, heading into the second intermission.

The Blues applied heavy pressure in the third and Minnesota crumbled midway through the period, giving up two goals in a 2:16 span. Minnesota responded with just under five minutes to play in regulation, tying the game at 4-4.

However, 2:16 into overtime, Vladimir Sobotka netted the game winner for the Blues.

Wade Redden scored his second goal as a Blue and in as many games, Patrik Berglund and Barret Jackman added goals, David Perron, Alex Pietrangelo and Kevin Shattenkirk each assisted on two goal.