Wild Warmup: Minnesota vs. Winnipeg

The essentials

The opponent

A 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday at the United Center snapped a three-game winning streak for the Central Division-leading Jets, who got a goal from Patrik Laine and 25 saves from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
The game Saturday is the fourth and final meeting between the Wild and Jets; Winnipeg has won each of the first three games this season. Kyle Connor and Blake Wheeler each have two goals and three assists against Minnesota.
Wheeler's 52 points leads the team. Laine's goal Friday gave him 20 in 45 games this season.
The Jets recalled goaltender Michael Hutchinson from Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Friday. Hutchinson is 14-2-4 and leads the AHL with a .942 save percentage. Because Hellebuyck started Friday in Chicago, it's likely either Hutchinson or Steve Mason will earn the nod between the posts Saturday.
After hosting Winnipeg, the Wild welcomes the Vancouver Canucks to Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, then enters its five-day bye week. Minnesota won't skate as a team again until Friday for an evening practice.

Connections

• Wild Assistant Coach John Anderson served as the Atlanta Thrashers head coach for two seasons (2008-10).
• Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien is a native of Roseau.
• Jets forward Matt Hendricks is from Blaine and played four seasons at St. Cloud State (2000-04).
• Wheeler hails from Plymouth and went to the University of Minnesota (2005-08).

Defense into offense

Minnesota's defensemen have totaled 100 points (24-76=100) in 44 games -- the fourth-most points by a blue line in the NHL this season -- led by Ryan Suter (6-22=28), Jared Spurgeon (5-17=22), Matt Dumba (7-15=22) and Jonas Brodin (4-6=10). Last season, Wild defensemen totaled 169 points (42-127=169) in 82 games, led by the same quartet: Suter (9-31=40), Spurgeon (10-28=38), Dumba (11-23=34) and Brodin (3-22=25). This season, Tampa Bay's blue line leads the NHL in scoring (107), followed by Nashville (104) and Toronto (101).
Related:
- Wild hasn't forgotten most recent matchup with Jets - Watch: Boudreau, Stewart, Ennis talk weekend's importance - Listen: PONDcast preview's Saturday's tilt