This wraps up a three-game season series between the Ducks and Wild, which most recently featured a 3-0 Ducks victory on Jan. 17 in Minnesota. The series opened with the Wild beating the Ducks, 5-1, at Honda Center on Nov. 9. Brandon Montour co-leads all skaters in points in the season series, earning three assists in two games. Corey Perry, who tonight will tie Teemu Selanne (966) for second on the all-time franchise games played list, leads active Ducks in career scoring vs. Minnesota with 38 points (19g/19a) in 44 games. The Ducks have posted a 33-21-10 all-time record vs. Minnesota, along with a 14-11-6 mark at Xcel Energy Center. Furthermore, the Ducks have gone 9-2-0 in their last 11 in Minnesota dating to Oct. 27, 2011, including wins in the last three.
Minnesota is clinging to the second wild card spot with a 27-26-6 record (60 points). The Wild has won just one game in its last nine (1-5-3), and was shutout 4-0 at home against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday afternoon. This is the finale of a four-game homestand, which so far has produced one point (5-4 OTL) and three losses (two in regulation). After missing the past eight games with a lower-body injury, former Ducks winger will return to the lineup tonight. Aberg had 11 goals and 19 points in 37 games with the Ducks, and has three assists/points in five games with the Wild.
Zach Parise paces the club with 49 points (23g/26a) in 58 games, while Mikael Granlund follows closely behind with 48 points (14g/34a). Granlund (26 points, 6g/19a) and Ryan Suter (25 points, 1g/24a) lead the Wild in home scoring with 25 points apiece, while Parise (21 points, 9g/12a) and Jared Spurgeon (21 points, 3g/18a) are tied for third with 21 points each.
