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Preview: The Wild ended an eight-game winless streak with a shootout victory Tuesday in St. Louis. Since beating Colorado on March 5, the Oilers are 0-7-3. The Wild has beaten the Oilers in the past 15 home meetings by a 54-19 score.

Players to watch: Wild LW Pierre-Marc Bouchard is one point from 300 and faces his favorite foe. Bouchard has 10 goals and 34 points in 36 games against the Oilers. G Niklas Backstrom is 1-9-1 in his past 11 and 0-6-1 in his past seven. But he will start in large part because he's 13-0 at Xcel against the Oilers, the longest current home winning streak by an NHL goalie against one team. C Matt Cullen is one point from becoming the eighth Minnesota-born player to record 500 points.

Numbers: During its 15-game losing streak in Minnesota, Edmonton has scored more than two goals just once. ... The longest current home winning streak vs. one team is 16 (Nashville over Columbus).

Injuries: Wild LW/RW Chuck Kobasew practiced Wednesday and is probable; D Cam Barker (back) is questionable; LW Guillaume Latendresse (lower body) and D Marco Scandella (finger) are out. Oilers C Taylor Hall (ankle), D Ryan Whitney (ankle), D Taylor Chorney (knee), RW Ales Hemsky (shoulder), C Sam Gagner (hand), RW Gilbert Brule (concussion) and C Shawn Horcoff (foot) are out; D Kurtis Foster (neck) is questionable.

MICHAEL RUSSO