Golden Knights at Wild
The Minnesota Wild sit just outside playoff position in the Western Conference but a difficult three-game stretch - beginning Thursday against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights - could make it tough to break through. An 8-3-0 run has elevated Minnesota to within one point of a wild-card spot in the West, but games against first-place Vegas along with playoff-positioned Philadelphia and Nashville will add to the challenge.
"This way can prepare us for the playoffs just the same and make us really work for it," Wild defenseman Matt Dumba told the media about the schedule. "These games we’ve been playing against some other teams have been very competitive and tight checking, so it’s kind of playoff like. We have to get used to that, because if we do get in, we’re going to be in for a battle." The Golden Knights hold a narrow edge over Edmonton in the Pacific Division after completing a three-game road trip through Western Canada with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Oilers on Monday. "It’s huge. We’re getting down to crunch time here and everyone is jockeying for positions and playoffs and the standings,” Vegas defenseman Alec Martinez told reporters. The Golden Knights, who are 11-2-0 in their last 13 games, have discovered another scoring source as Shea Theodore - Martinez's partner on defense - has scored game-winners in two straight games, including in Sunday's 5-3 victory over division-rival Calgary.
TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, FS Wisconsin, FS North
ABOUT THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS (39-24-8): Theodore has turned into a solid two-way player with 13 goals and 46 points - both career highs - and has formed an effective tandem with the newly acquired Martinez. Jonathan Marchessault (47 points) scored the tying goal - his 22nd of the season - and assisted on Theodore's winner Monday while playing a healthy 19 minutes, 55 seconds. Reilly Smith assisted on Marchessault's goal, and has 27 goals and 54 points this season.
ABOUT THE WILD (35-27-7): Eric Staal returned to practice Tuesday and will play Thursday after missing three games because of a death in the family. Kevin Fiala scored twice Sunday and has seven of his 23 goals and 14 of his team-high 54 points in the last eight contests. Zach Parise paces the club with 25 goals but hasn't scored one in two games since tallying in four straight.
OVERTIME
1. Vegas leads the league in shots per game at 34.5.
2. Minnesota on Sunday scored twice on the power play after going 0-for-11 in its previous three contests.
3. The clubs split the first two meetings this season with both winning at home as Alex Stalock made 26 saves and Fiala and Parise combined for two goals and three assists in a 4-0 victory Feb. 11 in the last encounter.