wild gameday

7 P.M. at WINNIPEG • FSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: After beating Vancouver 5-3 at home Monday night, the Wild flew to Winnipeg for Tuesday's big game. The Wild, which has played three fewer games, is chasing the Jets, who occupy the top wild-card spot. The Wild is 6-2-2 all-time vs. the Jets since the Thrashers left Atlanta and 3-2 at Winnipeg, winning the past two visits there, including a 3-2 win Dec. 29. The Jets ended a six-game winless streak (0-4-2) with a 5-3 victory over Colorado on Sunday.

Players to watch: Captain Andrew Ladd leads the Jets with 45 points followed by C Bryan Little who has 44 points and leads with 21 goals. D Dustin Byfuglien has 13 goals. The Minnesota native has 19 points in 24 career games against the Wild. There's a chance G Darcy Kuemper makes his first start since Jan. 6. He made 28 saves in the Wild's win at Winnipeg on Dec. 29. Snakebit Wild RW Jason Pominville has 12 goals and 31 points all-time vs. the Jets/Thrashers. LW Zach Parise has 15 goals and 30 points in 31 games vs. the franchise.

Numbers: The Wild is 2-for-16 on the power play in Winnipeg in five all-time visits. … The Wild is 2-2-3 in the second of back-to-backs. … The Wild is 12-4-4 all-time vs. the Jets/Thrashers.

Injuries: Wild LW Matt Cooke (sports hernia) and D Keith Ballard (concussion) are out, as are Ryan Carter and Jason Zucker (both upper body). Jets LW Evander Kane (shoulder), RW Matt Halischuk (lower body) and D Grant Clitsome (back) are out. D Jay Harrison (upper body) is questionable.MICHAEL RUSSO