Wild at Sharks
The Minnesota Wild have teetered on the edge of falling out of the postseason chase more than once but they continue to show their resiliency and are back in the hunt for one of the two wild cards. Winners of four of their last five games, the Wild begin a difficult closing stretch when they open a three-game road trip at the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.
Minnesota has won six of eight since absorbing a 2-0 home loss to San Jose on Feb. 15, climbing within one point of the final playoff slot with Tuesday's 3-1 win over Nashville. “Two weeks ago, we were on the outside of the playoffs," goaltender Alex Stalock said. "Trade deadline, we moved some guys. I mean, what is there to lose at that point?" The Sharks also have nothing to lose, sitting 11 points behind the Wild and poised to miss the playoffs for only the second time in 16 seasons. San Jose is perfect at the halfway point of its six-game homestand, including back-to-back victories over postseason contenders Pittsburgh and Toronto.
TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS California, FS North, FS Wisconsin
ABOUT THE WILD (33-26-7): NHL First Star of the Week Kevin Fiala has scored in five consecutive games and seven of his last eight to take over the team lead with 50 points. "He's magic, man. He gets it," Stalock said of Fiala, who was acquired from Nashville at the trade deadline a year ago. "He has a ton of confidence right now and this kid, when he has it going, it's fun to watch." Fiala also has collected multiple points in five straight games, joining Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov as the only players to do so this season.
ABOUT THE SHARKS (29-33-4): San Jose scored nine goals during a five-game slide prior to the three-game run, erupting for five goals in each of the past two wins over the Maple Leafs and Penguins. "It's unfortunate these games don't really matter too, too much," forward Stefan Noesen said. "But we have a lot of pride in this locker room. If we're not going to make it, we might as well ruin some other people's chances." Evander Kane has three goals and three assists during a three-game point streak and had one of each versus the Wild on Nov. 7.
OVERTIME
1. San Jose has won five straight meetings in the series, including three shutout victories at Minnesota.
2. Wild F Zach Parise has scored in three straight games overall and has nine tallies in 26 meetings versus San Jose.
3. Sharks G Martin Jones will make his fourth straight start, having allowed four goals in winning his last three.