6 p.m. vs. Winnipeg • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild has lost nine of its past 14 games (5-6-3) and six of its past eight at home (2-3-3). It is 0-1-2 during its four-game homestand. This is the first of a home-and-home against the rival Jets, who are 3-0-1 in their past four and are eight points ahead of the 10th-place Wild in the standings. The Wild has played three fewer games. The Jets are 10-4-4 on the road; they lost 4-3 at Minnesota in OT on Nov. 16.

Players to watch: It'll be interesting to see which goalie starts. G Darcy Kuemper has an .860 save percentage and 4.23 goals-against average in his past seven appearances. G Niklas Backstrom missed Tuesday's start (sick) and has allowed 17 goals in his past five appearances with an .880 save percentage. LW Zach Parise has nine goals and 17 points in 16 games since returning from a concussion. Jets C Mathieu Perreault has an eight-game point streak and goals in three in a row. . C Bryan Little leads with 13 goals.

Numbers: The Wild's power play has scored nine times in the past nine games. … The Wild is 11-4-3 all-time vs. the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers and 5-2-1 since Atlanta's move to Winnipeg.

Injuries: Wild D Keith Ballard (facial fractures, concussion) is out. Jets D Tobias Enstrom (lower body), D Jacob Trouba (upper) and D Zach Bogosian (lower) are on injured reserve. D Mark Stuart (lower) is out.

MICHAEL RUSSO