Wild back in action vs. Blackhawks after frustrating loss to Sabres

The Wild didn't have to wait long to get back on the ice to try to atone for a frustrating loss to the Sabres Saturday at home.

After that 3-2 setback, only the team's fourth loss in the last 15 games, the Wild will be back in action Sunday in Chicago when it faces off against the Blackhawks to complete its fifth back-to-back of the season.

"We always feel like we play better in the second game for whatever reason," winger Zach Parise said.

Backup Alex Stalock is expected to start after No.1 Devan Dubnyk played Saturday.

Stalock is on a three-game win streak, recording a 2.61 goals-against average and .910 save percentage since Oct.20.

All three of those wins have come in the second half of a back-to-back.

Against Chicago in his career, Stalock is 1-1 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

Following the loss Saturday, coach Bruce Boudreau mentioned that he wasn't sure how long the current line of Jason Zucker, Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund would stay together since he thought they were "getting too cute."

Boudreau could also insert a fresh face into the lineup since center Joel Eriksson Ek was a healthy scratch against the Sabres.

"I just think he's got to be able to make plays more," Boudreau said. "Defensively, he's good. Effort-wise, he's awesome. Penalty-killing, really good. We just need to see a little more offensive pizzazz or whatever from him because we truly think that, and always have thought, that he could be at minimum a third-line center. But when other people retire or move out, then he'd be a second-line center."

Projected lineup:

Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Nino Niederreiter

Marcus Foligno-Charlie Coyle-Jordan Greenway

Matt Hendricks-Eric Fehr-J.T. Brown

Ryan Suter- Matt Dumba

Jonas Brodin-Jared Spurgeon

Nick Seeler-Greg Pateryn

Key numbers:

199: Career assists for winger Mikael Granlund.

39: Points for defenseman Ryan Suter in 72 career games vs. the Blackhawks.

9-0-1: The Wild's record when it allows two goals or less.

6-4: How the team has fared on the road this season.

About the Blackhawks: