Oilers at Wild
THE STORY: The top team in the Western Conference hosts a team that held that same position not long ago as the Minnesota Wild entertain the Edmonton Oilers in a Friday matinee. It's already the third meeting of the season between the Northwest Division rivals, with Minnesota earning identical 2-1 shootout victories exactly one week apart last month. Those triumphs helped carry the Wild to unfamiliar territory, leading the conference and sporting one of the league's top home records at 8-2-1. Minnesota comes in having won five straight games, allowing a paltry eight goals over that span. The club should face a stiff test from an Edmonton offense that has shown glimpses of greatness - albeit in sporadic bursts - as the teams reach the season's quarter-pole. The Oilers are coming off a 6-2 rout in Nashville on Tuesday.
TV:4 p.m. ET, Rogers Sportsnet West, Fox Sports North.
ABOUT THE OILERS (11-8-2): Edmonton is in the midst of a bizarre stretch that includes one-sided victories over the Predators and Chicago Blackhawks (a 9-2 win last Saturday night), with a poorly-executed 4-1 loss to Dallas sandwiched in between. The power-play has been at the heart of the run, with Edmonton converting six of 11 man-advantage opportunities in its two victories while being held scoreless in six chances against the Stars.
ABOUT THE WILD (13-5-3): Goaltender Niklas Backstrom should be between the pipes for Friday's game after missing the Wild's previous encounter due to personal issues. The veteran netminder has been a one-man wrecking crew against Edmonton, posting an incredible 20-2-1 mark with a 1.66 goals-against average and four shutouts in 25 career starts. Both he and Josh Harding have maintained GAAs below 2.00 so far this season.
OVERTIME:
1. Backstrom played in both games against Edmonton last month, turning aside 51 of 53 shots in regulation and overtime for a .962 save percentage.
2. Minnesota leads the West despite ranking 12th out of 15 teams in the conference in goals scored. The club's leading point-getter, forward Mikko Koivu, sits tied for 68th in league scoring with 15 points.
3. Edmonton forward Taylor Hall is still looking for his first career point vs. Minnesota. The former first overall pick has been held scoreless in six games against the Wild.