Goalie Alex Stalock was between the pipes when the Wild began its current five-game point streak, and he'll return to the crease Monday when the team tries to extend that run against the Senators at Xcel Energy Center.
"He hadn't played in 12 days and if you look at the schedule, he probably wouldn't play for another 12 days and then his first game would have to be against either Vegas or Dallas," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "He's played really good. He's just had some bum luck against teams, and we haven't supported him the way we should maybe. But he's played well enough that he's earned a start again."
This is Stalock's first appearance since Jan.9, a 3-2 overtime loss to the Flames that was the start of the Wild's latest productive streak.
The change in net appears to be the only tweak to the lineup; winger Mikael Granlund is fine after missing Sunday's practice because he was feeling under the weather.
"We've got a couple guys that are not feeling well, but I think it's that time of the season," Boudreau said. "But I mean it's also the time of the season you suck it up."
And on the back end, defenseman Mike Reilly is poised to be a scratch for a fourth straight game.
"We've gotten points in five straight games," Boudreau said. "I just don't see changing the back end doing us any good."
The unit helped limit the Lightning to just two goals in Saturday's win, an effort that ranks as one of the Wild's best to date this season.
"You don't get anywhere doing it once," Boudreau said. "It's something if you want to, especially in our Western Conference, if you want to advance, you've gotta keep doing it game in and game out because every other team's doing it."
Projected lineup:
Jason Zucker-Mikko Koivu-Mikael Granlund
Daniel Winnik-Eric Staal-Zach Parise
Kyle Rau-Joel Eriksson Ek-Charlie Coyle
Marcus Foligno-Matt Cullen-Tyler Ennis
Ryan Suter- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin-Matt Dumba
Gustav Olofsson-Nate Prosser
Alex Stalock
Key numbers:
3: Consecutive wins by the Wild against the Senators.
25: Points in 28 games against the Senators for winger Zach Parise.
3: Game goal streak for winger Jason Zucker.
8: Goals on the road for Ottawa winger Mike Hoffman.
6-10-4: Ottawa's record on the road this season.
About the Senators:
The Senators remain near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, having dropped two straight and three of their last four. Ottawa has struggled on the road, winning just once in its last 10 games. Winger Mark Stone leads the team offensively, with 18 goals and 44 points. Defenseman Erik Karlsson has also been involved, boasting 27 assists. The team is 6-8-3 against the Western Conference.
