The Wild travel to Dallas to face the Stars tonight in their final game before the Christmas break. They were scheduled to host Detroit on Thursday but that game has been postponed.
For the Wild they will be looking to get back on track and end their 3 game losing skid. Dallas ended their own loss streak, which had reached five games, with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Blackhawks on Saturday.
We here remember the first meeting between the Wild and Stars a month ago in St. Paul, where thw Wild blitzed their Central Division foes 7-2. You can bet on it the Stars remember that too and will be ready when the puck drops and out to avenge that performance.
Jared Spurgeon will be out of the lineup who has been placed on IR with a lower body injury. Look for former Stars defenseman to draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch for the first time in a month, on Thursday when the Wild lost in the shootout to Buffalo.
Benn has been a solid addition to the Wild as a depth defenseman contributing a couple of assists in his 12 games played while averaging 14.5 minutes per game. Kevin Czuczman has been recalled once again but as long as the defense corps remains healthy it is unlikely he gets into the Wild lineup.
Dean Evason has his work cut out for him a bit with the lack of game play for his club over the past week and a half with two postponements last week and one again this week the Wild will only play two games, including tonight, prior to their Winter Classic matchup with the Blues on New Years Day.
On Thursday the Wild surely looked like a team that was going through the motions and that will most certainly not fly this evening against a very good Stars club.
Expect the Wild to come out hungry and fired up to play Wild hockey getting the puck deep and cycling it to create opportunities. Also you can count on a better approach with their attention to detail in protecting and supporting the puck in all three zones. . Jordan Greenway will not play as he is out with what is being considered minor lower body injury. That opens the door for Kevin Fiala to step into Greenway's place with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Foligno.
Brandon Duhaime moves into Fiala's place with Freddie Gaudreau and Nick Bjugstad while Rem Pitlick draws back into the lineup to play with Nico Sturm and Victor Rask.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!