Wild-Phoenix game preview

Last update: December 7, 2009 - 1:37 AM

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Preview: The Wild, winner of five in a row, opened a five-game trip with a 5-3 victory at Nashville on Saturday. The Wild is 4-1-2 on the road since opening 0-8 outside of St. Paul. The Wild has won nine of the past 11 against the Coyotes, but Phoenix has won four in a row.

Players to watch: RW Antti Miettinen has six goals and eight points in the past six games. LW Andrew Brunette has nine points in the past five games and 36 points in 36 career games vs. Phoenix. G Niklas Backstrom is 9-2, with a 1.64 goals-against average vs. Phoenix. Against the Wild, Coyotes RW Shane Doan has 21 points in 32 games. The line of Vernon Fiddler, Daniel Winnik and Taylor Pyatt has been the most dangerous line recently.

Numbers: The Wild has scored 23 goals in the past five games. ... The Wild has given up the first goal in eight of the past nine games (6-1-2).

Injuries: Wild RW Cal Clutterbuck (ill) rejoined the team in Phoenix on Sunday and is probable. D Brent Burns (concussion), LW Petr Sykora (concussion) and C Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion) are out. Coyotes D Kurt Sauer (headaches) is out and F Peter Mueller (upper body) is questionable.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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