Gameday preview: Anaheim at Wild

7 p.m. VS. ANAHEIM • XCEL CENTER • FSN+, 100.3-FM

Preview: The Wild is 7-2-1 in its past 10. It is 8-2-1 at home. The Ducks are the top team in the Western Conference, coming off a 5-4 shootout win over Philadelphia and 2-2 in their past four.

Players to watch: Ducks RW Corey Perry is tied for fourth in the NHL with 14 goals and has 22 points in 22 games. He has 17 goals and 32 points in 33 games against Minnesota. C Ryan Getzlaf has 31 points in 33 games against the Wild and C Ryan Kesler has 22 goals in 51 games vs. the Wild. D Sami Vatanen is tied for second among NHL defensemen with 21 points. Wild LW Nino Niederreiter was tied for third in the NHL with nine goals in the month of November. Eight of LW Jason Zucker's 10 goals have given the Wild a one- or two-goal lead.

Numbers: Despite its 29th-ranked power play, the Wild is plus-1 in special teams (seven power-play goals and three shorthanded goals vs. eight power-play goals against and one shorthanded goal against). … The past three years, the Wild ranked fifth in the NHL in faceoff win percentage at .514. This season the Wild ranks 19th at .488. C Mikko Koivu ranks 14th at .552. Other centers are Kyle Brodziak (.515), Mikael Granlund (.463) and Erik Haula (.432).

Injuries: Wild D Ryan Suter (mumps) is questionable. LW Matt Cooke (hip flexor) is out. Ducks D Sheldon Souray (wrist), D Ben Lovejoy (hand), G John Gibson (lower body), LW Dany Heatley (groin), D Francois Beauchemin (finger) and G Jason LaBarbera (hand) are out. D Eric Brewer (foot) is day-to-day.

MICHAEL RUSSO