7 p.m. vs. Ottawa • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild has won a season-high six consecutive games, and this is the front end of a back-to-back situation. The Wild opens its final road trip of the season Friday in Detroit. On March 15 in Ottawa against the Wild, the Senators forced overtime before star defenseman Erik Karlsson capped a three-point game with the overtime winner in a 3-2 victory. The Wild typically struggles against Ottawa. It's 4-8-4 in history, 2-4-2 in St. Paul. Ottawa ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory at Winnipeg on Wednesday.
Players to watch: Wild G Devan Dubnyk is 7-0-1 in his past nine starts with a 1.76 goals-against average and .938 save percentage and 11-1-1 in his past 14 starts with a 1.91 GAA. C Erik Haula is riding a league-best nine-game point streak. LW Nino Niederreiter's 11 goals since Feb. 15 ranks seventh in the NHL in that span. C Mikko Koivu has nine points in his past seven games. Karlsson, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, leads NHL defensemen with 76 points in 76 games and ranks fourth in scoring among all players. Karlsson has 13 points in eight career games against Minnesota. RW Bobby Ryan, who has 22 goals, has 11 goals and 12 assists in 24 career games against the Wild.
Numbers: The Wild's penalty kill is 27-for-28 in the past 11 games. … The Wild is 15-6-1 under John Torchetti with 72 goals scored (3.3 per game).
Injuries: Wild RW David Jones (illness) is doubtful. Senators LW Clarke McArthur (concussion) is out. C Kyle Turris (ankle), D Dion Phaneuf (foot), D Patrick Wiercioch (upper body) and D Mark Borowiecki (knee) are day-to-day.
MICHAEL RUSSO
