Players to watch: C Kyle Brodziak has three goals in his past three games and leads the Wild with 11 goals. LW Dany Heatley is second on the team in goals (nine) and total points (21). RW Jarod Palmer, a Fridley native and former Miami (Ohio) star, was called up from Houston to make his NHL debut. G Niklas Backstrom will start. He is ninth in the NHL in goals-against average (2.12). For New York, C John Tavares and RW P.A. Parenteau lead the team with 24 points. Parenteau has eight points in his past seven games. G Al Montoya is 5-5-3 with a 2.54 GAA and a .916 save percentage.

Numbers: The Islanders are 28th in the league with a 3-6-3 road record. The Wild has the fourth-best home record (10-4-2).

Injuries: For the Wild, C Mikko Koivu (lower body), LW Guillaume Latendresse (concussion), RW Devin Setoguchi (lower body) and D Justin Falk (lower body) are out. RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard (broken nose) is doubtful. RW Casey Wellman (wrist) is probable. For the Islanders, D Mark Eaton (knee), LW Jay Pandolfo (foot), G Rick DiPietro (groin) and D Andrew MacDonald (leg) are on injured reserve. LW Brian Rolston (concussion) and D Steve Staios (concussion) are doubtful.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD