wild gameday

7 P.M. VS. Buffalo • Xcel center • FSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: After dropping three games in a row on the road — and four overall — the Wild returns to Xcel, where it is 5-1. Buffalo is at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 3-12-2 record and has been outscored 12-2 in consecutive losses to Pittsburgh and St. Louis.

Players to watch: Wild forward Jason Pominville is the team's third-leading scorer with four goals and four assists. He played eight seasons with the Sabres before being traded to the Wild in 2013. Former North Dakota and Shattuck-St. Mary's star Drew Stafford leads the Sabres with nine points (three goals, six assists).

Numbers: With only 21 goals in 17 games, the Sabres are the lowest-scoring team in the NHL. Their goal differential of -39 is more than twice as large as any other team. … Buffalo G Jhonas Enroth, who is expected to start, is 1-7-1 with a goals-against average of 3.63 and save percentage of .901. … The Wild is 4-1-2 in its past seven games against the Sabres.

Injuries: Wild LW Zach Parise (concussion) is doubtful, D Jared Spurgeon (shoulder) is possible, and LW Matt Cooke (lower body) is out. Sabres D Josh Gorges (lower body) and G Matt Hackett (torn ACL) are out.

RACHEL BLOUNT