Wild gameday
5 P.M. VS. ANAHEIM • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: Six days after losing 4-1 to the Ducks in Anaheim, the Wild hosts the Ducks. Besides the fact that the Ducks have beaten the Wild in 10 of the past 11 meetings (Wild's 1-9-1), Anaheim has won six consecutive one-goal games in Minnesota. The Wild hasn't defeated the Ducks at home since Feb. 18, 2011. The Ducks' only win this season was against the Wild, and they got crushed 5-1 Thursday in Nashville.
Players to watch: Before Friday's games, Wild LW Zach Parise was tied for first in the NHL with six goals and D Ryan Suter was tied for second among NHL defensemen with six assists. Four of Suter's assists are on Parise goals. C Mikko Koivu has a point in four consecutive games, and RW Nino Niederreiter has a goal in two straight. Ducks C Ryan Kesler ranks second all-time against the Wild with 24 goals and third with eight power-play goals. RW Corey Perry and C Ryan Getzlaf each have 33 points in 36 games against the Wild.
Numbers: The Wild's power play is tied for third in the NHL (27.8 percent) and its penalty kill ranks 25th (75 percent). … The Ducks' power play ranks 30th at 5.5 percent, and they're averaging one goal per game, also 30th in the NHL.
Injuries: Wild C Tyler Graovac (groin) is out. Ducks C Nate Thompson (shoulder) and D Simon Despres (upper body) are out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
