The Wild didn't look sharp Friday in its return from an eight-day layoff, falling 3-1 to the Stars in Dallas, but it'll have a chance to rebound Saturday when it completes the second half of a back-to-back at home against the Chicago Blackhawks.
"We didn't play very good, but we had a chance to win in the last seven minutes of the game," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Maybe it was both teams being a little – even though it was their second game [since the break] – rusty. But at the same time, it's no excuse. I think we didn't have enough scoring chances, quite frankly. It wasn't a question of putting pucks in the net. We just didn't get any second chances.
"Teams that score in this league, the goalies are so good, a lot of times it's second chances and we didn't get any."
Backup Alex Stalock will get the start, his first since he signed a three-year contract extension Tuesday. This will be his first appearance since he surrendered three goals on eight shots less than eight minutes into a 3-0 los to the Anaheim Ducks Jan.17.
The lineup in front of Stalock could also look different than the look the Wild rolled out against the Stars.
Winger Pontus Aberg, who left Friday's game with a lower-body injury, is questionable to play.
Even if Aberg can play, it sounds like the Wild could switch up its fourth line by inserting winger J.T. Brown.
The blue line, however, will remain the same, meaning defenseman Anthony Bitetto's Wild debut will have to wait.
