wild gameday

Last update: January 11, 2008 - 12:15 AM

Preview: The Wild's four-game road swing ends in Chicago, where the Blackhawks are 0-5-2 in their past seven games while sinking to 13th in the Western Conference. This will be the Wild's second game vs. Chicago, the first at United Center. The Wild has won 11 of the past 12 games with the Blackhawks -- including a 1-0 victory on opening night.

Players to watch: Chicago has the top two rookie scorers this season in RW Patrick Kane (9-30--39) and C Jonathan Toews (15-17--32). Unfortunately Toews is on injured reserve. Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who had nine points in the seven games before Thursday, scored the only goal on opening night.

Numbers: Chicago has only four victories in its past 10 home games. Chicago is in the middle of the pack on the penalty kill but leads the NHL with 12 shorthanded goals. The Wild has allowed a league-high nine shorthanded goals.

Injuries: For the Wild, W Derek Boogaard (back) is on injured reserve. C Mikko Koivu is expected to return after missing 24 games because of a broken left leg. Chicago has seven players on IR: centers Toews (knee), Kevyn Adams (knee) and Dave Bolland (finger); wingers Ben Eager (concussion) and Jason Williams (groin) and defensemen Brent Sopel (finger) and James Wisniewski (knee).

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

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