7 p.m. vs. Edmonton • Xcel Energy Center
FSN PLUS, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild is 6-0-1 in its past seven home games and 9-3-3 in its past 15 overall. It's coming off consecutive losses at Dallas and at home against St. Louis (in a shootout). The Oilers have won two of their past three. The Wild is 20-2 in its past 22 home games against the Oilers and 24-11-2 all-time against them at home.
Players to watch: Wild LW Matt Cooke is expected to play his 1,000th game. He'll become the 286th player in NHL history and fourth to do so in a Wild uniform (Keith Carney, Andrew Brunette and Matt Cullen were the others). C Mikko Koivu has 435 points, putting him two from tying and three from passing Marian Gaborik to become the Wild's all-time leading scorer. He has 38 points in 49 games against Edmonton, tied for his most against any opponent. LW Matt Moulson has one goal, one assist, seven shots and has drawn three penalties in two games with the Wild. Oilers G Viktor Fasth, acquired from Anaheim one week ago, might debut and start his first NHL game since Nov. 18. D Oscar Klefbom, a 2011 first-round draft pick, might make his NHL debut. F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has no goals and three assists in the past 11 games. C Taylor Hall is 17th in the NHL with 61 points. LW Ryan Smyth is fourth all-time against the Wild with 20 goals in 63 games.
Numbers: The Wild's 43 victories vs. Edmonton are its most against any franchise. … The Wild is the sixth-best defensive team in the NHL (2.36 goals allowed per game); the Oilers rank 29th (3.23) and give up the fifth-most shots per game (32.6).
Injuries: Wild F Jason Zucker (leg) and Oilers D Anton Belov (oblique) are out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
