Gameday preview: Arizona at Wild

Preview: The Wild has won six in a row and five in a row at home. It also leads the West with a plus-26 goal differential. The Wild and Blackhawks are the only teams in the West with fewer than 10 regulation losses. The Wild is 8-1-2 in its last 11 meetings against Arizona.

Players to watch: G Darcy Kuemper expected to get a rare start after former Coyote Devan Dubnyk went a career-best 8-0-2 in his past 10 starts with a 1.65 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. LW Nino Niederreiter has 12 points in the past 12 games. C Eric Staal has three goals and three assists in the past six. Coyotes G Mike Smith has made 40 or more saves in five of his past 10 starts. Since returning from a leg injury in mid-November, Smith has stopped 477 of 510 shots (.935 percentage). Shane Doan needs one goal for career No. 400.

Numbers: The Wild leads the NHL with 1.97 goals allowed per game and ranks eighth with 2.9 goals scored per game; the Coyotes rank 28th with 2.2 goals scored per game and 27th with 3.07 goals allowed per game. … The Coyotes allow a league-high 35.8 shots per game and their minus-7.5 shot differential is worst in the NHL.

Injuries: Wild center Zac Dalpe (knee) is out. Coyotes center Brad Richardson (broken leg) and left wing Max Domi (hand) are out.

Michael Russo