PITTSBURGH — The Wild started the week sitting alone atop the Central Division, but that's no longer the case.
They've been demoted to third as part of a three-way tie for first place with Colorado and Dallas. All three teams have 98 points, and all three will be in action on Thursday with the Wild facing off against the Penguins at Pittsburgh.
The Stars play the Flyers, while the Avalanche take on the Sharks.
"Doesn't matter that we've clinched a playoff spot," coach Dean Evason said. "When the puck's dropped, we need to play the exact same way in order to stay as sharp as we can."
Former Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will start in net, the only lineup change the Wild are making from their 4-3 shootout loss to Vegas on Monday.
Gustav Nyquist (shoulder injury) is a possibility for Saturday's game, and Evason said the team does have a return in mind for Kirill Kaprizov (lower-body injury).
"I'm not going to disclose that," Evason said, "but certainly we want him to play a game or games before we get to the playoffs."
None of their regulars will take a break to rest vs. Pittsburgh, but that is a situation the Wild will monitor the rest of the way; the team wraps up the regular season next Thursday at Nashville.
