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Minnesota Wild @ Phoenix Coyotes: Game Preview

By Eric B
Harry How

Tonight, the Minnesota Wild (23-17-5) travel to Glendale, Arizona to take on the Phoenix Coyotes (21-12-9). The Wild are looking to extend their current three-game winning streak.

Game Time: 8:00 p.m. Central.

TV: Fox Sports North

Last 10 games: Minnesota Wild 4-6-0; Phoenix Coyotes 3-3-4

The Phoenix Coyotes are 12-5-3 on home ice and 9-7-6 on the road.

The Minnesota Wild are 16-5-2 on home ice and 7-12-3 on the road.

Last time out: The Minnesota Wild beat the L.A. Kings 2-1 in a shootout on Tuesday night. The Phoenix Coyotes beat the Calgary Flames 6-0 on Tuesday night.

Season series: This is the second game of three games series between the Minnesota Wild and the Phoenix Coyotes. The Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-1 at Xcel Energy Center on Nov. 27, 2013. In the loss, Wild forward Dany Heatley scored the lone goal for the Minnesota Wild.

Minnesota Wild Smoking hot: The Minnesota Wild enters tonight's game riding a three-game winning streak. If they Wild win tonight, it will be their longest winning streak of the season.

Phoenix heating up: The Phoenix Coyotes currently are riding a two-game winning streak after beating the Philadelphia Flyers (5-3) and the Calgary Flames (6-0).

Who's hot Minnesota Wild: Defenseman Ryan Suter has scored (5g-2a-7pts) in the last five games. Forward Nino Niederreiter has scored (3g-2a-5pts) in the last five games. Forward Mikael Granlund has scored (0g-3a-3pts) in the last three games. Forward Matt Cooke has scored points in three of the last five games (0g-3a-3ps). Forward Justin Fontaine has scored (2g-1a-3pts) in the last five games. Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper was impressive Tuesday night, as he recorded his first win of the season. The rookie stopped 39-of-40 shots in a 2-1 shootout victory against the L.A. Kings.

Who's not hot Minnesota Wild: Wild forward Jason Pominville has scored (0g-2a-2pts) in the last five games. Forward Torrey Mitchell has scored (0g-1a-1pt) in his last five games. Forward Charlie Coyle has scored (0g-2a-2pts) in his last five games.

Who's hot for the Phoenix Coyotes: Forward Mikkel Boedker has scored (3g-2a-5pts) in the last four-games for the Coyotes. Forward Martin Hanzal has scored (2g-3a-5pts) in the last five games.

Who’s not hot for the Phoenix Coyotes: Forward Antoine Vermette (0g-1a—1pts) in the last five games. Forward David Moss (0g0-a—0pts), Forward Rob Klinkhammer (2g-0a—2pts) in the last five games.

Minnesota Wild Injury Report: Forwards: Mikko Koivu (foot), Zach Parise (foot). Defenseman: Jared Spurgeon (foot). Goalies: Josh Harding (MS) are all out for the Minnesota Wild. Niklas Backstrom (abdomen) is playing tonight.

Phoenix Coyotes Injury Report: Forward: Kyle Chipchura (lower body injury) listed as day-to-day. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (upper body) probable, Zbynek Michalek (lower body) is out.

Top players for the Phoenix Coyotes: Forwards: Mike Ribeiro (10g-21a-31pts), Martin Hanzal (12g-18a-30pts), Mikkel Boedker (13g-16a-29pts, Shane Doan (13g-12a-25pts). Defensemen: Keith Yandle (6g-22a-28pts), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (4g-18a-22pts), Derek Morris (4g-11a-15pts). Goalies: Mike Smith 15-10-8, 2.89 GAA, and a .911 save percentage, Thomas Greiss 6-2-1, 1.89 GAA, and a 9.37 save percentage.

Goalie Match-up: Mike Smith 15-10-8, 2.89 GAA, and a .911 save percentage vs. Niklas Backstrom 4-9-2, 3.50 GAA, and a .896 save percentage.

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