7:30 p.m. at Dallas • American Airlines Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Wild-Dallas game preview
January 24, 2017 at 5:31AM
Preview: The Wild, after a 2-2 homestand and 4-2 loss to Nashville, looks to avoid consecutive regulation losses for the second time this season (Nov. 1 and 5). The Wild is looking to extend its road point streak to 13 games (10-0-2), which would break the franchise record. On Jan. 14, the Wild blew a 4-0 lead in Dallas but survived on Jason Zucker's late winning goal. The Wild is 7-2-4 in its past 13 regular-season meetings with Dallas, 4-1-2 in its past seven in American Airlines Center.
Players to watch: G Devan Dubnyk is expected to start for the Wild. In his past nine starts, he is 7-2 but with a 2.91 goals-against average and .894 save percentage. LW Zach Parise has no goals and two assists in the past eight games. RW Mikael Granlund has a seven-game point streak and 25 points in the past 22 games. LW Jason Zucker has 15 points in the past 15 games. … LW Jamie Benn leads the Stars with 26 points in 29 meetings with the Wild. Dallas C Tyler Seguin has 20 points in 18 meetings.
Numbers: After allowing 60 goals in the first 32 games (1.88 goals per game), the Wild has allowed 44 in the past 14 (3.14 goals per game). … During the Wild's 12-game road streak, the Wild has a 44-30 goal edge, 21.9 percent power play and 87.5 percent penalty kill.
Injuries: Wild C Mikko Koivu (sick) is probable and D Jonas Brodin (broken finger) is out. Stars C Mattias Janmark (knee), RW Ales Hemsky (hip), D Jamie Oleksiak (hand), D Johnny Oduya (lower body), C Radek Faksa (upper body) are out, and Seguin (ill) is questionable.
Michael Russo
about the writer
To be more competitive at home against Edmonton, the Wild are focusing on details while key injured players heal.
