Gameday: Wild at Pittsburgh

Last update: October 30, 2009 - 9:14 PM

Preview: The Wild, 0-8 on the road, visits the Igloo for the last time. The Wild is 6-2-1 all-time vs. the Penguins, 4-1 all-time at the Igloo. The Penguins were 10-2 before Friday's game at Columbus. Before tonight's game, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher, Pittsburgh's assistant GM the past three years, and LW Petr Sykora will receive their Stanley Cup rings.

Players to watch: Former Gopher Alex Goligoski was tied for fourth among NHL defensemen with 11 points before Friday's games. Superstar Sidney Crosby had nine goals in 12 games before Friday. D Martin Skoula played 259 games for the Wild from 2006 to '09. Sykora scored 25 goals for the Penguins last season, including 10 game-winners. He has 22 points in 28 career games vs. Pittsburgh.

Numbers: Before Friday, D Brent Burns was an NHL-worst minus-13. C Mikko Koivu ranked 667th at minus-12. Havlat 664th at minus-10 and D Greg Zanon, LW Andrew Brunette and D Nick Schultz were tied for 658th at minus-9. ... The Wild on Friday scored first for only the fourth time in 13 games.

Injuries: Wild D Kim Johnsson (shoulder), G Josh Harding (hip) and RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion) are out. Penguins C Evgeni Malkin (shoulder), RW Tyler Kennedy (undisclosed) and D Sergei Gonchar (wrist) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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