wild gameday
7 P.M. at WINNIPEG • MTS CENTRE • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild plays in Winnipeg for the first time this season, two days after a 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets at Xcel Energy Center. The teams have played twice in St. Paul, with each winning once in overtime. While Winnipeg remains on a roll that has put it nine points ahead of the Wild in the Central Division standings, the Wild has not won in regulation since Dec. 9.
Players to watch: Jets rookie G Michael Hutchinson has won three games in a row and leads the NHL with a goals-against average of 1.77 and save percentage of .939. Hutchinson is 9-2-2, and the Jets are 6-1-1 in his past eight starts. … Wild RW Jason Pominville has one goal and four assists against Winnipeg this season and has 14 points in his past 14 games.
Numbers: The Jets have earned at least one point in 13 of their past 14 games, going 8-1-5 in that span. … The Wild has five victories in its past 15 games. On the road, it is 7-9, with victories in five of its past eight.
Injuries: Wild C Mikael Granlund (upper body), LW Jason Zucker (illness), D Jonas Brodin (upper body), G Niklas Backstrom (illness) and D Keith Ballard (concussion/facial fractures) are out. Jets D Tobias Enstrom (lower body), D Jacob Trouba (upper body) and D Zach Bogosian (lower body) are out; D Mark Stuart (lower body) is day-to-day.
RACHEL BLOUNT
