The Kings won 4-1 against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday in Willie Desjardins' debut as coach, following a 4-1 victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 1. The Wild are 7-2-0 in their past nine games; they're 2-2-0 through the first four games of their seven-game road trip following a five-game winning streak. Goalie Devan Dubnyk will start for Minnesota; he's 5-2-0 with a 2.02 goals-against average and .926 save percentage in his past seven starts.
Players to watch
Wild defenseman Matt Dumba has scored a goal in two straight games and has three points (two goals, one assist) in a three-game point streak. Kings forward Ilya Kovalchuk has nine points (three goals, six assists) in a four-game point streak, including five points (one goal, four assists) on the power play.
They said it
"It wasn't pretty after pregame meal. I tried to gut it out and came to the rink. It was disappointing and I hate missing games. That's the first time I've missed a game for being sick, so it was just bad timing." -- Wild center Eric Staal on not playing against the San Jose Sharks on Tueday because of illness "He wanted us to be more creative and have more fun out there with the puck, and I think that reflected pretty good in the game." -- Kings center Adrian Kempe on coach Willie Desjardins
Staal will be a game-time decision after participating fully in practice Thursday. … Hendricks has not practiced the past two days.
Stat pack
Granlund has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in his past 11 games. … Parise needs two points for 700 in the NHL. … Carter has five points (two goals, three assists) in a three-game point streak. … Campbell is 3-1-0 with a 2.26 GAA in his past four games.
