7 p.m. vs. Vegas • Xcel Energy Center • NBCSN, 100.3-FM
Wild has big edge as series closes
Preview: The teams meet for the final time in the regular season, with the Wild holding a 5-1-1 record in the series. Monday night, the Wild improved to 3-0 at home against Vegas with a 6-5 comeback victory to move within four points of the second-place Golden Knights in the West.
Players to watch: Wild F Nick Bonino had two goals and an assist Monday. G Cam Talbot gave up five goals on 21 shots through two periods but stopped all 11 shots he faced in the third. … Golden Knights F Mark Stone had a goal and an assist Monday and leads Vegas with 10 points (2-8-10) against Minnesota this season. Former Wild LW Alex Tuch scored Monday and has three goals and two assists vs. the Wild this year. Robin Lehner and Marc-Andre Fleury have been alternating starts in goal for Vegas. Lehner gave up six goals on 32 shots on Monday. Fleury is 2-3 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .917 save percentage vs. the Wild this season.
Numbers: The Wild has scored four-plus goals in eight of its past 11 games, going 9-1-1 in that span, including 8-0-1 when scoring four or more goals.
Injuries: Wild C Marcus Johansson (upper body) is day to day. … Vegas F Max Pacioretty (undisclosed) is day to day. F's Ryan Reaves, Tomas Nosek and Patrick Brown are out because of undisclosed injuries.
Randy Johnson
