Wild-San Jose game preview
March 29, 2021 at 2:29AM
San Jose is first of four on the road
Preview: After a three-day break, the Wild (21-10-1) is back in action at San Jose – the start of a four-game road trip. The team has won three in a row and eight of its past 10 games. During its current winning streak, the Wild has given up only three goals. Before departing for San Jose, the team called up F Luke Johnson to the taxi squad from Iowa in the American Hockey League.
Players to watch: Wild LW Kirill Kaprizov has eight points in his past nine games, including five goals. In 17 career games vs. the Sharks, RW Mats Zuccarello has 16 points. … Sharks G Martin Jones is 3-1-1 over his past five starts. D Brent Burns is averaging 26 minutes, 30 seconds of ice time.
Numbers: The Wild has won six of its past nine games at San Jose. Goalies Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen lead the NHL in save percentage (.919). … San Jose (13-16-4) is coming off back-to-back losses, getting outscored 9-2 in those games by Arizona. F Patrick Marleau's next game will be his 1,757th — the second-most played in NHL history; Marleau is 11 games shy of Gordie Howe's record.
Injuries: Wild Fs Marcus Foligno (lower body) and Zach Parise (COVID list) are out. Sharks F Matt Nieto (lower body) is also out.
SARAH McLELLAN
about the writer
The team stands third in the Central Division and must protect that position to make the playoffs and improve it to gain home-ice advantage.
