Wild at Kings
THE STORY: Two teams heading in opposite directions clash Saturday when the Minnesota Wild continue their five-game road trip against the Los Angeles Kings. Minnesota, which is 1-1-0 on its trek, won five consecutive games before dropping a 3-1 decision at San Jose on Thursday. The Kings are 1-1-0 on their four-game homestand but have lost six of their last seven overall, scoring only 14 goals in that span. Los Angeles' struggles can be traced to its offense, which has scored two goals or fewer in nine of its last 11 contests. The Kings (2-0-2) gained at least one point in each of their four meetings with the Wild last season. Only one of the four games was decided in regulation.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FSN North, FSN Wisconsin (Minnesota), FSN West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE WILD (8-4-3): Guillaume Latendresse had his three-game goal-scoring streak snapped Thursday. The 24-year-old sat out the third period and is sidelined indefinitely due to a concussion. It's not known how he received the injury as he went face-first into the glass in Tuesday's victory in Calgary before absorbing a heavy hit from Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray two days later. Josh Harding has allowed only six goals in five starts this season.
ABOUT THE KINGS (7-6-3): Jonathan Quick's season thus far has been of the roller-coaster variety. Quick has gone 0-4-2 in his last six starts following a five-game winning streak during which he posted three consecutive shutouts. Dustin Penner continues to be a bust with Los Angeles. After being acquired from Edmonton on Feb. 8, the 29-year-old recorded just two goals and six points in 19 games with the Kings. This season, Penner has notched only two assists in 14 contests.
OVERTIME:
1. Minnesota had successfully killed 24 straight penalties before allowing goals in two consecutive shorthanded situations against San Jose on Thursday.
2. Los Angeles' Terry Murray is one of two men to coach their 1,000th career NHL game Saturday. Nashville's Barry Trotz is the other.