Wild Warmup: Minnesota vs. Anaheim

The essentials

ST. PAUL -- In with the new, and the old.
There'll likely be a
new face
in the Wild lineup as Minnesota hosts Anaheim on Old Time Hockey Night at Xcel Energy Center. Late on Thursday afternoon, it was announced the Wild traded Justin Kloos to the Ducks in exchange for forward Pontus Alberg.
Alberg is expected to make his Wild debut against his former team, which comes into St. Paul on a 12-game losing streak.
The Wild will look to make it two in a row against a reeling team out of the Los Angeles area. Goaltender Alex Stalock carried MInnesota to a
nailbiting, heartburn-inducing victory
here Tuesday against the Kings.

There's a chance Stalock gets the nod again as Minnesota looks to rest Devan Dubnyk ahead of the All-Star break.

Back home

Minnesota continues its three-game homestand Thursday vs. Anaheim.
The Wild has stopped 20 of its opponents' last 21 power play opportunities and ranks second in penalty kill percentage at home (89.3%) and T-3rd in fewest power-play goals allowed (8). Minnesota ranks seventh in the NHL in home power play percentage (25.4%).
Mikael Granlund (5-16=21) and Ryan Suter (1-20=21) lead the Wild in scoring at home with 21 points each. Zach Parise is third with 18 points (7-11=18) while Eric Staal ranks fourth with 17 points (11-6=17).

Old Time Hockey

The Wild will celebrate Old Time Hockey Night Thursday. The Hanson Brothers from the movie Slap Shot will be on hand, and all fans will receive a pair of Old Time Hockey glasses made famous by the threesome. In-game, social media and Wild.com and Wild NHL App elements will also carry on old-time hockey theme.

Sweet Sixteen

Jason Zucker tallied the deciding goal in Tuesday's 3-2 shootout win vs. LA, his first career shootout goal. He owns four points (3-1=4) in his last four games, including two power play goals.
The winger netted two goals Jan. 10 vs. WPG to earn his 14th career multi-goal game, second this season. His second was his fourth game-winning goal of the season. The contest also marked the fifth time in his career he scored at least two goals including the game-winner. His last three multi-goal games have included the GWG. The 26-year-old ranks T-1st on the Wild in GWG (4) and third in goals, PPG and shots on goal.
Zucker sits four points shy of his 200th career. He will become the 13th player in franchise history to reach the milestone.

It's Staal good

Eric Staal tallied a goal Tuesday and owns four points (1-3=4) in his last four games.
The 34-year-old ranks second on the Wild in goals and shots on goal, T-3rd in scoring, GWG (3) and plus/minus rating and T-4th in PPG (3). He recorded his 400th career NHL goal Nov. 3 at STL to become the sixth active NHL player to reach the milestone, 96th all-time.
The Thunder Bay, Ont. native skated in his 1,100th NHL game Oct. 19 at DAL to become the seventh active skate and 188th all-time to reach the 1,100-game milestone. Staal ranks fourth amongst active players in shots on goal, sixth in goals, eighth in scoring, 10th in PPG and 12th in assists.

Series notes

All-Time Wild Record: 29-28-6 (15-10-5 at Xcel Energy Center, 14-18-1 at Anaheim)
2018-19: Minnesota took the first season meeting against Anaheim with a 5-1 victory at Honda Center (11/9)…RW Mikael Granlund (2-1=3) and LW Jason Zucker (1-2=3) each led the Wild with three points…D Jonas Brodin (1-1=2) and D Jared Spurgeon (0-2=2) tallied two points apiece…G Alex Stalock stopped 20-of-21 shots…LW Pontus Aberg scored the lone goal for the Ducks…G John Gibson made 38 saves.
Wild leaders: C Mikko Koivu leads the Wild with 28 points (10-18=28) in 43 contests vs. the Ducks…D Ryan Suter has 20 points (3-17=20) in 44 matches…C Eric Staal owns 16 points (7-9=16) in 24 games…LW Zach Parise has 15 points (7-8=15) in 24 contests.
Wild goalies: G Devan Dubnyk is 7-8-2 with a 2.08 GAA, a .924 SV% and one shutout in 18 games (17 starts) against Anaheim…Stalock is 1-0-0 with a 1.65 GAA and a .914 SV% in three games (one start).
Ducks leaders:RW Corey Perry leads the Ducks with 38 points (19- 19=38) in 44 contests against the Wild…C Ryan Kesler owns 37 points (25-12=37) in 61 games…C Ryan Getzlaf has 34 points (8-26=34) in 43 matches…RW Patrick Eaves owns 15 points (6-9=15) in 26 contests.
Ducks goalies:Gibson is 4-2-1 with a 2.04 GAA, a .940 SV% and one shutout in eight career starts vs. Minnesota…G Ryan Miller is 7-7-0 with a 3.41 GAA, a .889 SV% and one shutout in 14 career starts…G Chad Johnson is 2-2-0 with a 2.76, .894 SV% and one shutout in six games (five starts).
Connections:Wild General Manager Paul Fenton worked for the Ducks from 1993-98, serving as a scout for three seasons and chief professional scout the last two seasons…Wild Assistant General Manager Tom Kurvers tallied seven points (4-3=7) in 22 games for Anaheim during the 1994- 95 season…Wild Head Coach Bruce Boudreau served as the Ducks Head Coach in parts of five seasons (2011-16), compiling a record of 208-104- 40 (.647), including four straight Pacific Division titles (2012-16)…Wild Assistant Coach Bob Woods served as an assistant coach on Boudreau's staff with Anaheim for two seasons (2012-14)…RW JT Brown recorded three points (1-2=3) and 12 PIM in 23 games with the Ducks last season (2017-18)…D Andy Welinski is a Duluth native and skated in four seasons at the University of Minnesota Duluth (2012-16).

Did you know?

The Wild has earned points in nine of its last 15 games played at Xcel Energy Center (7-6-2).