wild gameday

6:30 p.m. at Ottawa• FSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild faces a tough opening assignment as it begins a string of three consecutive road games. It is 1-6-1 in its past eight games against Ottawa, and the Senators are 3-0-2 this season on home ice.

Players to watch: Wild RW Nino Niederreiter has three goals and two assists in his past six games. Senators RW Bobby Ryan has 10 goals and nine assists in 21 career games against the Wild. G Craig Anderson is 3-7-2 against the Wild with a goals-against average of 3.08 and save percentage of .893.

Numbers: The Wild is 2-3-0 on the road this season. … Anderson is ranked fifth in the NHL with a save percentage of .939 and is 3-2-1 this season.

Injuries: Wild F Zach Parise (upper body), F Matt Cooke (lower body), D Jared Spurgeon (shoulder) and D Keith Ballard (illness) are out. Senators D Marc Methot (back) is out, D Chris Phillips (lower body) is day to day and D Mark Borowiecki (undisclosed injury) is questionable.

RACHEL BLOUNT