The Los Angeles Kings look to get back to their winning ways Thursday, when they host the Northwest Division-leading Minnesota Wild. Los Angeles returns home from a 3-1-1 road trip that concluded with a 3-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday. The Kings are seeking revenge for a 4-3 shootout loss in Minnesota last Friday.
Minnesota is coming off a 4-2 road loss to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. The setback was the third in four games for the Wild, who still sit atop the Northwest despite being even in points with Vancouver. They own the tiebreaker over the Canucks with two more victories in the same amount of games played.
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network, FSN North, FSN Wisconsin (Minnesota), FSN West (Los Angeles)
ABOUT THE WILD (21-13-2): Minnesota, who will be without Matt Cullen for a second straight game due to a lower-body injury, may not have Dany Heatley in the lineup as well. Heatley was on the wrong end of a two-handed slash from Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic at the final buzzer on Wednesday and skated off the ice clenching his left forearm or wrist. The Wild acquired right wing Jason Pominville from the Buffalo Sabres at Wednesday's trade deadline and also added goaltender Jeff Deslauriers from the Anaheim Ducks. Pominville registered 10 goals and 15 assists in 37 games with Buffalo this season.
ABOUT THE KINGS (20-13-3): Los Angeles was quiet at Wednesday's deadline as it made its only addition on Monday, acquiring defenseman Robyn Regehr from Buffalo. The 32-year-old appeared in 29 games with the Sabres this season, notching two assists and 21 penalty minutes with a minus-4 rating. "I'm really, really happy for a few different reasons," Regehr said. "Being in a position to win again, and with a team that has proven it can do it in the past and wants to do it again. Also familiar with Darryl (Sutter) as a coach." A day after obtaining Regehr, the Kings shipped defenseman Davis Drewiske to the Montreal Canadiens for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
OVERTIME
1. Minnesota has won three of the last four games in the all-time series, but Los Angeles has earned at least one point in eight of the last nine meetings (4-1-4).
2. Kings LW Justin Williams is riding a four-game goal-scoring streak.
3. The Wild conclude their three-game road trip in Columbus on Sunday.
PREDICTION: Wild 3, Kings 2