In St. Paul, what is the ideal route from US 52 to Xcel Energy Center?

[DandyDan]

I am going to my first MN Wild game tomorrow night along with a coworker and his brother in law from Rochester, so we are driving up US 52. It seems like driving all the way to I-94 is going too far, but there is no other exit after crossing the Mississippi River. I could, in theory, take one of the roads that exits from US 52 and go to Robert Street, but that looks like too many traffic lights. It would be so much easier without going to Rochester first.

[froggie]

Could theoretically split onto 55 then take 149 to 494 to 35E into downtown.

Or just get off 52 before you get to the Lafayette Bridge and take Robert St or Wabasha St over the river, despite the "too many traffic lights"

It's basically 6-of-one, half-a-dozen of the other...