wild gameday
7:30 P.M. at DALLAS • FSN PLUS, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild, coming off a 4-0 loss at home to Los Angeles, plays the first in a road-home back-to-back at Dallas and against St. Louis. This is the third of five meetings, and the Wild is going for its first-ever three-game win streak against Dallas. The Wild beat the Stars 4-1 and 2-1, the latest coming Nov. 15 at Dallas for the Wild's second win in its past 21 visits there (2-14-5) since March 2003. The Stars have won three in a row, all at home. The Wild has won three of its past four on the road. Minnesota returns to play against the Central Division as the only team in the division with an undefeated record (5-0-0). The Wild is 7-3-0 in 10 games against the West this season.
Players to watch: Wild LW Thomas Vanek has one goal and 37 shots. That puts him on a pace of 3.9 goals and 180 shots this season. RW Jason Pominville has one goals in the past 14 games. LW Zach Parise and nine goals and 19 points in 15 games vs. the Stars. Dallas F Tyler Seguin is third in the NHL with 28 points and leads the league with 17 goals.
Numbers: The Stars rank 28th in the NHL at 3.32 goals per game. … The Wild's power play is 1-for-41 on the road.
Injuries: Wild D Jonas Brodin (mumps) is questionable, and LW Matt Cooke (hip flexor) is out. Stars RW Valeri Nichushkin (groin) is out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
