1 p.m. vs. Vancouver • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Faceoff features 2 struggling squads
Preview: The Wild's magic number is two points. A win, and the Wild clinches a playoff berth for a fifth consecutive season. If it loses in regulation, it will need to rely on a loss in regulation time by Los Angeles. The Wild has lost eight of its past 10 games and is just 3-9 this month. The Canucks are 1-5-2 in their past eight games and 6-14-3 overall since the All-Star break. Minnesota is 9-4 in its last 13 games against the Canucks and 10-5 in its past 15 against them at home.
Players to watch: With the Wild playing a matinee in Detroit on Sunday, G Darcy Kuemper, yanked in his past two starts, could be in goal. C Mikko Koivu leads Minnesota with 42 points in 54 games against Vancouver. LW Nino Niederreiter has one goal in the past 18 games and none since Feb. 27. LW Jason Zucker has one goal in the past 12 games. Canucks C Bo Horvat leads Vancouver with 20 goals and 47 points. C Henrik Sedin ranks first all-time against the Wild with 56 assists and is second with 69 points in 82 meetings. LW Daniel Sedin is tied for third with 22 goals and third with 65 points in 79 meetings with Minnesota.
Numbers: In March, the Wild ranks 26th with 2.25 goals per game, tied for 21st at 3.00 goals allowed per game, 27th with an .893 save percentage and 23rd with a .139 power-play percentage. … The Wild's 88 points vs. the Canucks are its third most against any NHL franchise.
Injuries: Wild D Christian Folin (upper body) is slated to return after missing 10 games. Canucks C Markus Granlund (wrist), D Erik Gudbranson (wrist), RW Derek Dorsett (back) and RW Anton Rodin (knee) are out. LW Loui Eriksson (leg) is questionable.
Michael Russo
