ANAHEIM, Calif. – Goalie Devan Dubnyk is a game shy of 500 for his career, but that milestone appearance isn't scheduled to come Tuesday in Anaheim.
Backup Alex Stalock is poised to start against the Ducks.
This will be Stalock's first start since the Wild melted down 6-3 to the Stars in Dallas a week ago. Before then, Stalock posted a 30-save win over the Los Angeles Kings.
"Another opportunity to win a game," Stalock said. "Obviously, the Dallas game it was bounces that you don't see, that happen maybe once a game. All of a sudden, three bounces off your own guy into the net is kind of a back breaker. You feel so good about your game for two periods, honestly three periods. It's just bounces. What are you going to go? Just gotta stay positive, do what I'm doing and give the team a chance."
The road has been a rough backdrop for the Wild this season, with the team 1-8 through its first nine tests away from Xcel Energy Center. But the group is hopeful this next trip, in California and Arizona, could be the one that starts to help the Wild improve.
"This morning, you saw it in pregame skate, the guys are excited," Stalock said. "We get out here, [and] the weather's great. It immediately brings spirits up, which is good because obviously it hasn't been the start we've wanted. But you can look back on this trip at the end of the year and say, 'Hey, that was kind of what sparked it.'"
Projected lineup:
Jason Zucker-Eric Staal-Mats Zuccarello
