wild gameday

4 p.m. VS. Winnipeg • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 107.8-FM

Preview: The Wild, 1-0 in the second of back-to-backs this season, is 6-1 at home, having outscored its opponents 28-13. The Jets played in Nashville on Saturday night and are 1-1 in the second of back-to-backs. The Wild is 10-4-3 all-time vs. Winnipeg/Atlanta. Since the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg, the Wild is 4-2-1 against the Jets, 2-0-1 at home.

Players to watch: Coach Mike Yeo said there's a "good chance" G Niklas Backstrom starts. In relief of Darcy Kuemper, the Wild's all-time winningest goalie made 25 saves for his first home win since Jan. 4 Thursday against Buffalo. D Jared Spurgeon has one goal, nine shots and eight blocked shots while averaging 28 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time in two games since returning from a shoulder injury. RW Charlie Coyle has three assists in the past two games and LW Ryan Carter has a three-game point streak.

Jets F Blake Wheeler, a former Gopher, had three 2-point games in his previous five before Saturday. Michael Hutchinson may start because of the early game and the fact Ondrej Pavelec started in Nashville. D Dustin Byfuglien has 17 points in 21 games vs. the Wild.

Injuries: Wild LW Zach Parise is a "possibility" to return from a concussion. D Marco Scandella (sick) and D Jonas Brodin (sick) are questionable. LW Matt Cooke (lower body) is out. Jets RW Anthony Peluso (upper body) is out.

MICHAEL RUSSO