The Panthers, who finished a 2-2-1 road trip with a 3-2 victory against the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday, will face the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens before their next road game, at Minnesota on Jan. 2. Goaltender James Reimer started every game on the road trip and will start against the Wild. He had a 2.18 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage on the trip. He has started seven straight games since Roberto Luongo sustained a lower-body injury Dec. 4. Minnesota is playing the third of a four-game trip that concludes against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Wild have split the first two games, losing 4-1 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and defeating the Ottawa Senators 6-4 on Tuesday.
Players to watch
Wild forward Eric Staal has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games, including two goals and an assist against Ottawa on Wednesday. Panthers defenseman Mike Matheson scored his first three goals of the season, including two game-winners, during Florida's five-game road trip.
They said it
"May the force be with us." -- Wild coach Bruce Boudreau, who took advantage of the mentors and fathers trip to go see the new "Star Wars" movie with his son Andy "Our road game is in a pretty good spot and we're in every game. We've got to start winning home games. That's the biggest thing right now. If you're going to make a push for the playoffs and you're going to stay in the hunt, home games are huge. We've got to string together some home games." -- Panthers coach Bob Boughner on his team's 7-10-2 record at BB&T Center
Cullen, the second-oldest player in the NHL at 41, will play in his 1,400th career game. He will become the fourth U.S.-born player to reach that milestone. … The Panthers hope McCoshen can return Tuesday against Philadelphia. Luongo skated Thursday, but Boughner said there still is no timetable for his return.
Stat pack
Minnesota is 5-0 in games that have gone past regulation after losing its first three. … Huberdeau did not have a point in his past four games after having 10 (two goals, eight assists) in the previous seven.
