7 p.m. Friday and Saturday vs. Anaheim • Xcel Energy Center • BSN Plus Friday, BSN Saturday, 100.3-FM
Series preview: Wild vs. Anaheim
May 7, 2021 at 2:33AM
Final two at home before playoffs
Preview: The Wild (33-14-5, 71 points) and Ducks (17-30-7, 41 points) meet for the final two times this season, with Minnesota holding a 5-1 series lead. With its 3-2 overtime loss to Vegas on Wednesday, the Wild sits in third place in the West Division, five points behind the Golden Knights and one behind second-place Colorado, which has a game in hand on both. Last-place Anaheim closes its season with this series.
Players to watch: Ducks RW David Backes, the former Spring Lake Park and Minnesota State Mankato standout, likely will make the final appearance of his NHL career in his home state. The 37-year-old has said he is considering retirement. He has played 15 games this season, with three goals and one assist, and on Wednesday received an emotional tribute in St. Louis, where he played for 10 seasons. Backes has 248 goals and 313 assists in 965 career games. … Wild rookie LW Kirill Kaprizov scored his 25th and 26th goals of the season Wednesday, giving him 10 goals and two assists in his past 10 games.
Numbers: The series marks the final two home games of the regular season for the Wild, which is 19-5-2 at Xcel Energy Center. … Kaprizov's 0.50 goals per game average leads all NHL rookies since the start of the 2006-07 season.
Injuries: Wild LW Kevin Fiala (lower body) is day to day. … Anaheim C Adam Henrique (undisclosed), D Andy Welinski (lower body) and D Josh Manson (undisclosed) are day to day.
Randy Johnson
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The star forward came back from a brief injury absence, and two goals from Frederick Gaudreau helped Minnesota to another road victory.
