Goaltender Devan Dubnyk will start for the Minnesota Wild on Friday. Dubnyk is 9-6-2 and ranks second in the NHL in goals-against average (1.66) and save percentage (.946). He has given up three goals or fewer in every start this season, and two or fewer in 12 of his 17 starts. "He's been solid every night and given us a chance, giving us better than a chance some other nights," said forward Eric Staal, who is three points shy of 800 in his NHL career. "He's been one of the best players for us all year. We need that to continue because goaltending in this League is vitally important. Hopefully he can keep it going." Backup Darcy Kuemper started in a 5-4 loss at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. "We gave up five goals last game, which hopefully was an anomaly," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We've got to get back to what makes us what we are, which is a structurally sound good defensive team." Minnesota is 0-1-1 to start a five-game road trip after winning back-to-back games at home. "We've got to find a way to when we get that positive momentum to build on it and roll with it," Staal said. "We seem to be making mistakes in areas that are costing us in games that we should have, and if we can eliminate that we can go on a good run. We have a good team and a good group."
