wild gameday

6 P.M. at buffalo • FSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: The two teams have combined for 14 consecutive losses. The Wild has lost a season-high six in a row (0-5-1), 12 of its past 14 (2-8-4) and 17 of its past 24 (7-12-5). It has lost four in a row on the road, having been outscored 21-5. The Sabres have lost a franchise-record eight in a row and are 3-11-1 since their last regulation win Dec. 11.

Players to watch: Wild LW Nino Niederreiter has no goals in the past 13 games. G Niklas Backstrom has allowed 30 goals in his past eight starts, and the Wild hopes newly acquired G Devan Dubnyk debuts. LW Zach Parise has one goal in his past nine games and one assist in his past five. Sabres LW Matt Moulson, who played with the Wild the final two months of last season, has no goals and two assists in his past 10 games. All-Star starter Zemgus Girgensons leads with 11 goals and C Tyler Ennis leads with 24 points.

Numbers: The Wild is 2-6-1 since No. 1 C Mikael Granlund broke his wrist. … The Sabres are plus-4 on the power play this season, having scored a league-low 11 power-play goals and given up a league-high seven shorthanded goals.

Injuries: Wild D Ryan Suter (suspended), D Justin Falk (upper body), G Darcy Kuemper (lower body), D Marco Scandella (upper body), D Keith Ballard (facial fractures, concussion) and Granlund are out. Sabres RW Brian Gionta (head), RW Cody McCormick (blood clot) and LW Marcus Foligno (hand) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO