6:30 p.m. at Detroit • Joe Louis Arena • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: This is the final game before the All-Star break for both teams. The Wild has won two in a row in Detroit after winning only two of its previous nine visits and four of its previous 18 there. The Red Wings are one of the hottest teams in the NHL, winning four in a row (17 goals) and six of their past seven.
Players to watch: There's a chance G Darcy Kuemper (lower body) will start for the Wild. He was activated off injured reserve Monday. If not, Devan Dubnyk will likely start for the second time in two nights. F Thomas Vanek entered Monday's game against Columbus with no even-strength points since Dec. 20 (13 games). Red Wings LW Tomas Tatar is tied for seventh in the NHL with 21 goals and was named the NHL's second star of the week on Monday. He had five goals last week and goals in four straight games. RW Gustav Nyquist is second with 18 goals and LW Henrik Zetterberg leads with 41 points.
Numbers: The Red Wings rank fourth defensively (2.35 goals allowed per game) and have the NHL's second-best power play (25.2 percent). … The Wild is 2-2-2 in the second of back-to-backs.
Injuries: Wild C Mikael Granlund (wrist) is questionable. D Justin Falk (upper body) and D Keith Ballard (concussion) are out. Red Wings RW Johan Franzen (upper body), G Jimmy Howard (groin) and D Jakub Kindl (elbow) are out. RW Tomas Jurco (back) is day-to-day.
MICHAEL RUSSO
