Wild gameday

Last update: November 14, 2007 - 11:24 PM

Preview: The Wild, after a last-minute 3-2 loss Tuesday night at Calgary, is 2-6-1 in its past nine and 0-4-1 in its past five on the road. It's also 0-4-1 on the road against the Northwest Division. However, the Wild has beaten the Oilers 14 times in the last 18 meetings and will get back RW Marian Gaborik tonight from a groin injury. The Wild had Wednesday off in Edmonton, while the Oilers won a shootout at Vancouver 1-0.

Players to watch: Wild D Petteri Nummelin has four power-play assists in the past three games. Gaborik leads the Wild in career scoring against Edmonton with 32 points in 37 games. LW Brian Rolston has 28 points in 33 games vs. the Oilers. Coach Jacques Lemaire didn't name his goalie, but Niklas Backstrom is 6-0 with a 0.83 goals-against average against the Oilers. ... Oilers LW Geoff Sanderson has 20 points in 18 games vs. the Wild. LW Ales Hemsky has two goals and a shootout winner vs. the Wild this season, while C Shawn Horcoff has three goals and five points in two games vs. the Wild.

Numbers: The Wild has given up 10 power-play goals in 44 chances over the past 10 games.

Injurues: Oilers D Matt Greene (broken fibula), LW Ethan Moreau (bruised foot), RW Fernando Pisani (colitis), D Joni Pitkanen (knee), D Mathieu Roy (shoulder) and D Sheldon Souray (shoulder) are out. Wild LW Pavol Demitra (groin) and C Wes Walz (leave of absence) are out. Wild LW Stephane Veilleux (cheekbone) will return.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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