wild gameday
7 P.M. VS. washington • xcel energy center • FSN, 100.3 FM
Preview: The Wild beat the Sabres on Thursday, ending a six-game regulation losing streak and winning for the first time in regulation since Dec. 8. The Wild is 6-0 all-time vs. the Capitals. They are the only NHL team without a victory in St. Paul. Washington is 8-4-4 in its past 16 games and is playing for the first time outside the Eastern time zone since Nov. 10.
Players to watch: Caps LW Alex Ovechkin leads the NHL with 31 goals, 12 on the power play. He has 28 shots in the past three games. C Nicklas Backstrom, who is fourth in the NHL with 35 assists, has 18 points in the past 11 games.
Numbers: Washington is third in the Eastern Conference in goals per game (2.85) and has averaged 3.07 goals over the past 13 games. … The Capitals are second in the NHL with a 25 percent success rate on power plays.
Injuries: Wild LW Zach Parise (broken foot) is out. G Josh Harding (illness), D Jared Spurgeon (undisclosed) and RW Justin Fontaine (upper body) are questionable. Capitals D Jack Hillen (tibia) and C Michael Latta (lower body) are out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
