wild gameday

7 P.M. VS. edmonton • XCEL CENTER • fsn Plus, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild is 3-0 against the lowly Oilers this season, with a pair of victories on the road and one at home. It has outscored Edmonton 12-6, but the Wild has only six goals in its past six home games while going 1-4-1.

Players to watch: Wild G Niklas Backstrom has all three victories over the Oilers this season and is 17-0 against them on home ice. … Oilers D Justin Schultz, one of the top rookies in the NHL, is averaging 21 minutes, 27 seconds per game — the second highest ice time on the team — and has seven goals and 16 assists.

Numbers: The Wild is 19-1 in its past 20 home games against Edmonton. … Oilers G Devan Dubnyk has a 4.14 GAA and 0-3 record against the Wild this season.

Injuries: Wild RW Jason Pominville (head injury) is questionable; LW Mike Rupp (lower-body injury) has resumed practice and could play; RW Dany Heatley (shoulder) is out for the season. Oilers RW Ales Hemsky (broken foot) is out indefinitely; C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (shoulder surgery) is out for the season; LW Lennart Petrell (high ankle sprain), D Theo Peckham (illness) and D Ryan Whitney (leg) are questionable.

RACHEL BLOUNT