The Wild, facing its third consecutive struggling Eastern Conference opponent at home, looks to bounce back from consecutive home losses to Philadelphia (in overtime) and New Jersey.
Devan Dubnyk vs. Linus Ullmark tonight.
Mike Reilly plays his third game in a row as Nate Prosser continues to be on the mend from a hand injury. He originally injured his hand blocking a shot against Pittsburgh but jammed it at the morning skate in Columbus.
He'll miss his fifth consecutive game tonight but could play Friday.
The only lineup change is Chris Porter in for Ryan Carter. Carter, playing with a left hand injury, has now injured his right hand stemming from a fight the other night with New Jersey's Jordan Tootoo.
Tonight, Jason Pominville, who once played 336 consecutive games for Buffalo, will play his 207th straight game for the Wild. That ties Andrew Brunette for third on the Wild's Iron Man list. Kyle Brodziak is second at 231 straight, Antti Laaksonen first at 283 straight.
Pominville is looking for his first point since Dec. 22 tonight.
If you didn't see, I wrote about the Wild for a third straight year playing Buffalo. Only this year, they're not in crisis mode.
Still, the Wild hasn't been playing as good as Zach Parise thinks it can be and he was honest in today's story.
This afternoon at 4 o'clock at Tom Reid's Hockey City Pub, Jim Souhan and myself will tape our malepatternpodcasts.com show. Please stop on by and listen.
Also, Thursday at 6 p.m. at Tom Reid's, Anthony LaPanta will be our guest.
