Preview: The Wild (2-1) begins a two-game road trip, its first of the season, against a Red Wings team that has stumbled out of the gate. Detroit (1-2) has been outscored 11-5, losing to St. Louis and Dallas and defeating Columbus. The Red Wings have yet to score a power-play goal, going an NHL-worst 0-for-15, and an injury-depleted defensive corps has left them vulnerable. The Wild finishes the trip Sunday at St. Louis.
Players to watch: Wild G Josh Harding (1-0) will start; last season, he went 2-1-1 against Detroit, with a goals-against average of 2.60 and save percentage of .930. Detroit C Damien Brunner, a former Swiss League star, is an intriguing newcomer who has one goal on a team-high 15 shots.
Numbers: Wild F Pierre-Marc Bouchard needs one goal to reach 100 for his career. Teammates Zach Parise (1-3--4) and Dany Heatley (3-1--4) have scored in all three games this season.
Injuries: Out for Detroit are D Ian White (leg laceration), D Carlo Colaiacovo (shoulder) and LW Jan Mursak (collarbone); D Jonathan Ericsson (shoulder), G Jonas Gustavsson (strained groin) and RW Mikael Samuelsson (groin) are listed as questionable. Wild D Jared Spurgeon (sore foot) has missed two days of practice; he is on the trip, but his status is uncertain.
RACHEL BLOUNT
