Wild Gameday
9 p.m. at Anaheim • Honda Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: If the playoffs started today, the teams would meet in the first round. Anaheim (39-10-5) has the best record in the Western Conference — and the NHL — and the Wild (28-20-6) is eighth in the West. The Ducks are third in the league in scoring (3.33 goals per game) and have the fifth-best defense (2.33). … The Wild is third-to-last in goals (2.28) and seventh-best in goals against (2.39). Anaheim has won both meetings this season.
Players to watch: Anaheim is fueled by C Ryan Getzlaf (25 goals-35 assists-60 points), who is third in the NHL in scoring, and RW Corey Perry (28-29—57), who is fifth. G Jonas Hiller (24-6-4 with a 2.34 goals-against average) shut out the Kings 3-0 on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium. … RW Jason Pominville (20-15—35) is the Wild's goal-scoring leader. LW Dany Heatley has 22 points in 28 games vs. Anaheim. G Darcy Kuemper (2.29, .922 saves percentage) has started the past seven games.
Numbers: The Wild is 4-3-1 over its past eight games despite not having a power-play goal (0-for-21). … Anaheim is 21-1-2 at home.
Injuries: Wild G Josh Harding (illness), D Jared Spurgeon (foot) and C Mikko Koivu (ankle) are out. Ducks D Luca Sbisa (hand) is probable.
