7 p.m. vs. Dallas • Xcel Energy Center • FSN+, 100.3 FM
Boudreau to coach 800th game
Preview: The Wild (18-15-3) is a point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference and plays nine of its next 12 games at home. … The Stars (20-14-3) are four points ahead of the Wild in the Central Division. Ken Hitchcock, in the first season of his return as Dallas coach (he led the Stars to the Stanley Cup in 1999) traded defenseman Jamie Oleksiak to Pittsburgh for a conditional draft pick a week ago.
Players to watch: Stars scoring leaders are C Tyler Seguin (17 goals-15 assists-32 points) and LW Jamie Benn (15-17-32). C Martin Hanzal had 13 points in 20 games for the Wild at the end of last season. RW Tyler Pitlick (5-8-13) played one season at Minnesota State Mankato and is the only former Centennial High School player to make the NHL. G Ben Bishop (2.65 goals-against average, .910 saves percentage) has played 28 games while Kari Lehtonen (2.59, .907) has played 13. … C Eric Staal (14-17-31) is the Wild scoring leader.
Numbers: Wild coach Bruce Boudreau (476-232-91, .652) will coach his 800th game tonight. … The teams have played evenly (27-27-12) through 66 meetings. … The Wild is third in the NHL on the penalty kill at 84.5 percent, and first at home (94.3). The Wild has been shorthanded 142 times, second most in the NHL, while having 109 power plays, eighth fewest in the league. … It ranks second in the NHL with 586 blocked shots in 36 games.
Injuries: Wild W Zach Parise (back surgery), W Nino Niederreiter (foot) are out and G Devan Dubnyk (knee) is doubtful. Dallas D Marc Methot (knee) is out.
Chris Miller
