wild gameday
6 P.M. at Carolina • PNC ARENA • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild's three-game winning streak – its third of the season – was snapped with a 3-2 shootout loss at Washington on Thursday, but Minnesota has points in seven of eight games (6-1-1). Carolina has won two in a row to open a five-game homestand but has eight goals in the past seven games. The Hurricanes lost 3-1 in Minnesota on Oct. 24 but are 4-0 against the Wild all-time in Raleigh.
Players to watch: Coach Mike Yeo didn't reveal whether Josh Harding (14 goals in 13 games) or Niklas Backstrom will start in goal for the Wild. The Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Charlie Coyle line has 10 points in the past two games. The Nino Niederreiter-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville line has nine goals and 21 points in the past six games. C Eric Staal leads the low-scoring Canes with nine points, while LW Nathan Gerbe leads with four goals.
Numbers: The Canes are the third-lowest scoring team in the NHL (1.88 goals per game). Their power play ranks 22nd at 13.8 percent. … The Wild is the second-best defensive team in the West (2.06 goals allowed per game) and lead the NHL in fewest shots per game allowed (23.9).
Injuries: Wild D Clayton Stoner (leg) is questionable. D Keith Ballard (upper body) and LW Mike Rupp (knee) are out. Hurricanes G Cam Ward (lower body), G Anton Khudobin (lower body), F Jeff Skinner (hand) and D Joni Pitkanen (ankle) are out. RW Kevin Westgarth (upper body) and D Tim Gleason (upper body) are questionable.
MICHAEL RUSSO
