Preview: The Wild ended a two-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Detroit on Saturday night at Xcel Energy Center. This is the rematch, and the Wild can expect a super-motivated Red Wings team tired of answering questions about the sputtering offense during a losing streak that has reached four games. Josh Harding, who made 36 saves Saturday, gets the start in goal for the Wild. It will be his third start this season, all against Detroit. The last time the Wild won two consecutive against Detroit in the same season was in 2002-03.
Players to watch: With Harding in net, the Wild has earned three of a possible four points vs. Detroit this season. He is 1-0-1 with a 1.45 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage in those games. RW Dany Heatley scored the lone goal in Saturday's game. He is on a four-game point streak (2-2--4). C Matt Cullen leads the Wild with four goals. C Mikko Koivu has points in back-to-back games. ... For Detroit, the story is more about who should be scoring but isn't. LW Henrik Zetterberg has three points in nine games, and RW Danny Cleary has only two assists. The second line of Valtteri Filppula, Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler has no points during the Red Wings' four-game losing streak.
Numbers: The Wild is 5-14-1 all-time in Joe Louis Arena. Eight of the Wild's 10 games this season have been decided by one goal. The Wild is 3-2-3 in those games. The Wild entered Monday's play 27th in the NHL with 19 goals.
Injuries: For the Wild, D Clayton Stoner (finger) and D Greg Zanon (groin) are out. For Detroit, F Jan Mursak (broken right ankle) is out. D Mike Commodore (lower body) has been cleared to play.
KENT YOUNGBLOOD
