Preview: The Wild looks to affect another team's strive for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East when it visits the Capitals. The Wild is 6-0 all-time at home against Washington but is 1-4 in the nation's capital. The Caps, who opened the season 7-0 before eventually firing coach Bruce Boudreau for Dale Hunter, have lost four of five and blew a 3-0 lead to Winnipeg on Friday before losing in overtime.

Players to watch: LW Alex Ovechkin scored two goals Friday for his 70th career multigoal game and eighth of the season and now has eight goals in his past six games. He is tied for fourth in the NHL with 35 goals and tied for third with 13 power-play goals. LW Jason Chimera has four points in his past three games and has set a career-high with 18 goals. G Matt Hackett might start for the Wild. Recalled Saturday, Hackett is 3-5 with a 2.30 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in 11 appearances this season.

Numbers: Ovechkin has scored two goals and gotten one assist in four games vs. the Wild. ... The Wild is 4-3-2 in the second of back-to-backs. ... The Caps rank 21st in the NHL in goals against (2.8). ... The Caps were 22-0 when leading after two periods before blowing Friday's lead.

Injuries: Wild D Jared Spurgeon (concussion), C Matt Cullen (finger), G Niklas Backstrom (lower body), LW Matt Kassian (groin), D Justin Falk (knee), D Mike Lundin (sports hernia), LW/RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion) and LW Guillaume Latendresse (concussion) are out. Capitals RW Joel Ward (lower body) and G Tomas Vokoun (groin) are questionable. C Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) and D Tom Poti (groin) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO