7 p.m. vs. Chicago • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild has won a season-best five consecutive games and has beaten the Blackhawks in all four meetings this season and in six in a row for the first time in history. It is 12-6-1 in its past 19 regular-season games vs. Chicago, with 11 decided by one goal and five going to a shootout. The Blackhawks have won two in a row since a 2-5-2 stretch.
Players to watch: Wild LW Zach Parise has five goals in the past two games. G Devan Dubnyk is 10-1-1 in 13 starts with a 1.98 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, having the most wins in the league since Feb. 28. C Erik Haula's career-best eight-game point streak is the longest active point streak in the NHL and matches C Mikko Koivu's team-best this season. LW Nino Niederreiter has 10 goals since Feb. 15. Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane leads the NHL with 94 points and is second with 39 goals. Kane has 30 points in 35 career games against the Wild. C Jonathan Toews has 28 points in 31 games vs. the Wild.
Numbers: Since Feb. 15, the Wild is tied for the most wins in the NHL (14) and tied for the second-most goals (68). The Wild's power play ranks 10th in the NHL (19.8 percent) and has scored 19 times in the past 21 games. … The Wild's penalty kill is 24-for-25 the past 10 games.
Injuries: Wild LW Ryan Carter (upper body) is out. Blackhawks G Corey Crawford (upper body) is day-to-day.
MICHAEL RUSSO
