Gameday preview: New Jersey at Wild
January 10, 2016 at 6:15AM
Preview: The Devils are the clichéd team "waiting for us" in Minnesota. While the Wild played Saturday night in Dallas, New Jersey already was in Minnesota preparing for Sunday's game. The injury ravaged Devils have lost three in a row and begin a four-game road trip. Minnesota has won its past three home games against New Jersey and is 4-1-1 in its past six games overall after posting a 1-5-4 record in the first 10 meetings between the two teams.
Players to watch: Wild G Darcy Kuemper might return from missing six games because of a concussion. Kuemper went 4-0-2 with a 1.26 goals-against average, .947 save percentage and one shutout in December before getting hurt. The Devils are the only team in the NHL against whom LW Zach Parise hasn't scored a goal. In three games against the team he once captained, Parise has three assists and 12 shots. Devils RW Kyle Palmieri leads with 17 goals, and he's second with 30 points. C Adam Henrique has 14 goals and 14 assists.
Numbers: The Wild is 2-2-3 in the second of back-to-back games this season. … The Devils are tied for 28th in the NHL at 2.21 goals per game but ranks fourth in goals against per game (2.31). The Devils rank seventh on the penalty kill (82.6 percent).
Injuries: Wild D Nate Prosser (hand) is questionable. Devils LW Ryane Clowe (concussion), LW Patrik Elias (knee), F Jacob Josefseon (foot), LW Mike Cammalleri (upper-body), LW Jiri Tlusty (upper body) and LW Tuomo Ruutu (lower body) are out. D John Moore (lower body) is day-to-day.
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Center Joel Eriksson Ek will wear a full-face shield after having his nose broken Saturday; captain Jared Spurgeon remains sidelined.
