wild gameday

7 P.M. VS. winnipeg • XCEL • FSN, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild, winners of five in a row at home and nine of 10, are 9-1-2 in its past 12 overall and 6-0-1 this month. It is 9-1-1 since a 3-3-3 start. The Jets have won their past four games, the past three by shootout. They are 5-1 this season in shootouts. The Wild has won three in a row, with two of those coming in shootouts. The Wild's first victory of the season came Oct. 10 against Winnipeg by a 2-1 score.

Players to watch: Wild RW Jason Pominville is tied for second in the Western Conference and fourth in the NHL with 12 goals. He has nine goals and 13 points in the past 11 games. G Josh Harding is 9-0 at home with a 1.17 goals-against average. He has no regulation losses since Oct. 17 (8-0-2). His 10-game point streak is the longest in Wild history. LW Zach Parise has six goals and 12 points in the past 11 games. In the past nine games, Jets leading scorer Bryan Little has 6 goals and 10 points. LW Evander Kane has no goals and two assists in the past seven games.

Numbers: The Wild is 9-1-2 at home for the most victories and points (20) in the NHL. … The Wild has given up the fewest shots per game (24.1) and the fewest 5-on-5 goals (18) in the NHL. … Pominville's 12 goals in the first 20 games ties team records by Marian Gaborik (2002) and Brian Rolston (2006).

Injuries: Wild G Niklas Backstrom (upper body) and D Keith Ballard (upper body) are out. Jets D Zach Bogosian (lower body), D Jacob Trouba (upper body), D Mark Stuart (hip), D Paul Postma (blood clot) and C Jim Slater (sports hernia) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO