wild gameday
7 p.m. VS. N.Y. Rangers • Xcel Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: With two games remaining in a four-game homestand, the Wild is looking to end an 0-1-2 slide that has slowed its drive to secure a playoff spot. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to make his first career start against the Rangers, who have the NHL's seventh-best road record (19-12) but are coming off a poor performance in a loss Tuesday at Carolina.
Players to watch: Wild C Mikko Koivu, with 435 career points, needs two more to tie Marian Gaborik as the franchise's career scoring leader. … G Cam Talbot will start for the Rangers. He has not started a game since Feb. 27 but is 11-5 with a 1.75 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. … Rangers F Martin St. Louis, whose 29 goals this season rank ninth in the NHL, has not scored a goal in his first four games since he was traded to New York from Tampa Bay.
Numbers: The Wild has earned points in its past eight home games and is 22-7-4 at Xcel Energy Center, the sixth-best home record in the NHL. … The Rangers have not allowed a power-play goal in their past five games, killing 13 penalties and scoring three shorthanded goals in that span.
Injuries: Wild F Jason Zucker (leg) is out.
RACHEL BLOUNT
