Preview: Two days after the death of owner Mike Ilitch, the Red Wings come to town for the second of a back-to-back matinees after losing 2-1 at Columbus on Saturday. With a Western Conference-best 36 wins and 78 points, the Wild is two wins and nine points from equaling last season's 82-game totals. The Wild is 13-3-2 in 2017 and 25-4-2 since Dec. 4.

Players to watch: Since Nov. 23 when Wild G Devan Dubnyk was 7-6-1 and in danger of falling to .500, he is 23-3-2 with a 2.14 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. RW Jason Pominville has 15 points in the past 11 games. LW Nino Niederreiter has three goals and two assists in the past three games. LW Jason Zucker is a point from 100 in his career. Former Wild LW Thomas Vanek has five goals and five assists in eight meetings with Minnesota.

Numbers: The Wild is 14-5-1 against the East this season and 10-1 vs. the Atlantic Division. Last season, the Wild went 13-16-3 against the East and 8-6-2 vs. the Atlantic.

Injuries: Wild D Jonas Brodin (broken finger) practiced for the first time Saturday. He is a week or so from returning. Red Wings C Joe Vitale (concussion), G Jimmy Howard (knee) and D Jonathan Ericsson (wrist) are out.