Wild at Oilers
The Minnesota Wild attempt to strengthen their position in the Western Conference standings as they continue their three-game road trip against the reeling Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. Minnesota began its trek in Calgary, where it posted a 4-3 victory over the Flames on Monday behind a two-goal performance by Jason Pominville. The Wild begin the day sixth in the West, three points behind the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings and two back of the San Jose Sharks for fifth.
Edmonton has fallen to 12th place in the conference thanks to a five-game losing streak during which it has scored a total of four goals. After beginning the month with back-to-back victories over Calgary, the Oilers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Flames on Saturday. Edmonton will be playing its first game under new general manager Craig MacTavish, who replaced the fired Steve Tambellini on Monday.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, FSN North Plus, FSN Wisconsin (Minnesota), Rogers Sportsnet West (Edmonton)
ABOUT THE WILD (23-16-3): Despite being in sixth place in the West, Minnesota is only two points ahead of ninth-place Columbus. By scoring twice versus Calgary on Monday, Pominville now has only one team against which he has yet to tally - the Buffalo Sabres. Pominville played the first 578 games of his career with Buffalo before being dealt to Minnesota at the trade deadline. Niklas Backstrom posted his 21st victory Monday, tying him with San Jose's Antti Niemi and Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury for the league lead.
ABOUT THE OILERS (16-18-7): MacTavish moves into the general manager position after serving as the team's senior vice president of hockey operations since last summer. He also coached the Oilers for eight seasons from 2000-09. "I'm an impatient guy and I bring that impatience to this situation," he said. "We have to do some bold things and expose ourselves to some semblance of risk to move the team forward in a rapid fashion." Scott Howson, who had been assisting the club's pro scouting department, has been promoted to serve in MacTavish's former role.
OVERTIME
1. The Oilers recalled Fs Anton Lander and Teemu Hartikainen from Oklahoma City of the American Hockey League.
2. Minnesota has won six of its last seven visits to Edmonton.
3. The Wild have captured three straight meetings with the Oilers and eight of 10.
PREDICTION: Wild 3, Oilers 2