Wild-Stars Game 4 preview

April 20, 2016 at 4:28AM

Preview: The Wild is coming off a 5-3 Game 3 victory, but Dallas leads the series 2-1. The Wild rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win a playoff game for the second time in team history and ended a nine-game losing streak when giving up the first goal.

Players to watch: Stars LW Jamie Benn has registered at least one point in eight of his nine career playoff games (six goals, 10 points). He has a 11-game point streak against the Wild dating to the 2014-15 regular season (18 points). Stars RW Patrick Sharp has nine goals and 16 points in 17 career playoff games against the Wild. Wild C Mikko Koivu leads the Wild with 11 power-play goals, including the playoffs, and is coming off his first career game-winning playoff goal. C Erik Haula has 10 goals and 23 points in 29 games under coach John Torchetti. RW Jason Pominville's 19 playoff goals is the most of any healthy Wild player. LW Jason Zucker has two goals and three assists in his past 34 games. C Charlie Coyle has no goals and 28 shots in the past 21 games.

Numbers: The Stars have a 72-39 shot attempt advantage in the first period in the series. … The Wild held Dallas to a season-low-tying 17 shots Monday.

Injuries: The Wild's Zach Parise (back) and LW Thomas Vanek (upper body) are out. Stars C Tyler Seguin (undisclosed) is out. D Kris Russell (sick) is questionable.

Michael Russo

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