Wild gameday

Last update: October 3, 2007 - 6:55 PM

Preview: The Wild, coming off a franchise-record 104-point season, begins Year 7 with the first in a three-game homestand. The team is 5-0-1 in home openers, winning five consecutive since a 3-3 tie its inaugural season. The Wild swept the 2006-07 season series with Chicago and is 17-6-1 all-time vs. the Blackhawks, 10-2 at home.

Players to watch: Wild LW Pavol Demitra has scored more times against Chicago than any opponent, registering 22 goals and 48 points in 39 games. RW Marian Gaborik has 22 points in 20 games vs. Chicago. C Eric Belanger will make his Wild debut in between wingers Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. G Niklas Backstrom, who did not face Chicago last season, will start. Blackhawks C Robert Lang has 11 points in 14 games vs. the Wild, while G Nikolai Khabibulin is 2-4-2 with a 2.60 goals-against average.

Numbers: The Wild began last season by winning nine of its first 10. ... The Blackhawks' power play ranked 30th last season, scoring only 43 times (11.8 percent).

Injuries: Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews (broken finger) is questionable, while RW Martin Havlat (groin) and C Tuomo Ruutu (knee) are probable. D Andrei Zyuzin (groin) and D Dustin Byfuglien (ribs) are out. Wild D Kurtis Foster (groin) is out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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