8:30 p.m. at Edmonton • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: This is the first of a three-game, former Northwest Division rival swing, and the first of three meetings with the Oilers. The Wild has won eight of its past nine in Edmonton and is 17-8-1 there since the 2004-05 lockout. The Wild is 23-7-2 in its past 32 against the Oilers since March 26, 2008. The Oilers have won two in a row in shootouts and are 5-7-4 since firing coach Dallas Eakins.
Players to watch: Wild leading goal scorer Zach Parise, named dthe NHL's third star of the week Monday, has goals in four consecutive games and is a goal from his seventh 20-goal season. He's tied for 12th in the NHL. G Devan Dubnyk, the Wild's starter, stopped 90 of 93 shots against the Oilers, his former team. C Mikko Koivu has 38 points in 50 career games vs. the Oilers. LW Nino Niederreiter has no goals in the past 17 games. His last goal came on a penalty shot at Chicago on Dec. 16. The Oilers are led by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle, who all have 29 points.
Numbers: The Wild's 19 victories in Edmonton and 43 overall are its most against any franchise. … The Oilers rank 26th at 2.26 goals per game, 30th with a 3.30 goals-against average and 30th with an .889 save percentage. The Wild's save percentage is 29th at .891.
Injuries: Wild C Mikael Granlund (wrist) is expected to play for the first time since Dec. 27. D Keith Ballard (concussion) is out. Oilers RW Tyler Pitlick (spleen) is out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
