7:30 p.m. vs. San Jose • Xcel Energy Center • NBCSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild, 2-8 in March, has lost seven of eight games since beating San Jose 3-1 at home March 5 in a suffocating defensive performance. Since that game, the Wild has faced multiple-goal deficits in seven of eight games, including five consecutive, has trailed at some point in eight straight games and has led for 15 minutes, 41 seconds in 480 minutes since. The Sharks are 4-4 since the Wild loss, including a 1-0 defeat at Dallas on Monday night.

Players to watch: RW Mikael Granlund's 66 points are tied for seventh most in a Wild season. LW Zach Parise has 17 points in 19 games against the Sharks, while C Eric Staal has 15 points in 16 games against them. Former Wild Brent Burns leads all NHL defensemen with 27 goals and 70 points. C Joe Pavelski is tied for 15th in the league with 63 points and has 29 points in 34 games against the Wild. C Logan Couture has 25 points in 26 games dating to Jan. 19.

Numbers: The Wild is 8-1-1 in its past 10 at home against San Jose.

Injuries: Wild D Christian Folin (upper body) is questionable. C Tyler Graovac was sent to Iowa of the AHL on Monday. Sharks C Melker Karlsson (lower body) it out. D David Schlemko (knee) and RW Jannik Hansen (upper body) are questionable.

Michael Russo