Preview: The Wild carries a 14-game point streak against the Western Conference (12-0-2) and is a league-best 18-2-1 since Dec. 4. The Wild is 1-5-1 in its past seven home games vs. Anaheim, the six losses all by one goal. In Bruce Boudreau's return to Anaheim on Jan. 8, the Wild won 2-1. The Ducks have won five of six since.
Players to watch: Wild LW Nino Niederreiter has five goals in the past five games. RW Mikael Granlund has 23 points in the past 20 games and C Mikko Koivu has 27 points in the past 27 games. LW Zach Parise has no points in the past five games. In his past eight starts, G Devan Dubnyk is 6-2 with a 2.89 goals-against average) and .894 save percentage. Ducks C Ryan Kesler has 25 goals and 36 points in 57 games vs. the Wild. C Ryan Getzlaf and RW Corey Perry have combined for 25 goals and 67 points against Minnesota.
Numbers: After allowing 60 goals in the first 32 games (1.88 goals per game), the Wild has allowed 37 in the past 12 (3.08 goals per game).
Injuries: Wild D Jonas Brodin (broken finger) is out. Ducks C Nate Thompson (Achilles'), D Simon Despres (concussion), D Clayton Stoner (lower body,) LW Jakob Silfverberg (upper body) is out.
