Preview: Its playoff hopes all but dashed, the Wild will try to stop a six-game winless streak (0-5-1), and bounce back from Sunday's 8-1 loss to the Canadiens. The Wild, 2-6-2 in March, is host to a Toronto team that, though it has four fewer points than the Wild, is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind eighth-place Buffalo.

Players to watch: RW Martin Havlat, the Wild's leading point-getter, has one assist in his past six games after getting points in nine of the previous 10 games before that. C Mikko Koivu has two goals and five points in four games since returning from a broken finger. D Brent Burns has one assist and is a minus-5 in his past six games. G Niklas Backstrom is 1-6-1 in his past eight starts, with a 3.67 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. ... Toronto RW Phil Kessel, the former University of Minnesota athlete, was under fire after a slump around the All-Star break. But he has 15 points (6-9--15) in his past 14 games. G James Reimer is 3-1-0 in his past four starts, with a 2.88 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

Numbers: The Wild is 3-5-0 all-time vs. Toronto, 2-1-0 at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild has won two consecutive vs. Toronto, including a 5-2 decision in Toronto last season. Toronto has scored three or more goals in seven of its past nine games.

Injuries: Wild D Cam Barker (back) is questionable. D Marek Zidlicky (hamstring) is doubtful. W Guillaume Latendresse and D Marco Scandella (broken finger) are out. Toronto RW Colton Orr (concussion) and RW/LW Colby Armstrong (broken foot) are out. D Mike Komisarek (groin) and C/LW Darryl Boyce (upper body) are questionable.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD