The Wild are 8-0-3 in their past 11 games, the second-longest point streak in their history (13 games from Dec. 2-29, 2016). The Hurricanes are coming off a 3-2 shootout win against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday but are 2-3-0 in their past five games after going 6-1-0 in their previous seven.
Players to watch
Wild forward Zach Parise has six points (four goals, two assists) in his past six games. He has 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 34 games against Carolina. Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in his past 13 games.
They said it
"They play with speed, they play with pace, they keep coming at you, they shoot from everywhere. If you're not ready and you don't have your legs going, you're going to be in trouble." -- Wild coach Bruce Boudreau "It seems like everyone we're playing lately is playing well. It's the NHL. Every game is tough. We expect a really tough game."-- Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour
Minnesota recalled Sturm and Menell from Iowa of the American Hockey League on Friday after placing Koivu and Pateryn on injured reserve … Carolina did not hold a morning skate. … Necas participated in practice Thursday, but Brind'Amour said he does not expect the rookie forward to be available.
Stat pack
Zucker and Zuccarello each has four points (two goals, two assists) in the past two games. … Fiala has seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past seven games. … Aho has eight points (two goals, six assists) in seven games against the Wild. … Mrazek is 29-8-1 at with a 2.12 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and five shutouts in 38 games at PNC Arena. … Carolina defeated Minnesota 4-3 in overtime at Xcel Energy Center on Nov. 16, its third straight win against the Wild.
