"With where we're at, I think it's huge," said Wild forward Eric Staal. "We know our situation and we're fighting to get good feelings and get confidence in our group. I think tomorrow would go a long way if we can get the 'W.'"
Minnesota begins the night two points clear of Los Angeles in the Western Conference and eight points behind Vancouver, Winnipeg and Vegas for the wild card positions.
The Kings are coming off a three-game swing through Eastern Canada, posting just one out of a possible six points in losses to Toronto, Ottawa (overtime) and Montreal.
Los Angeles is just 1-4-1 since a 5-1 loss to the Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Oct. 26. Five different players scored goals and Matt Dumba had two assists for Minnesota in that game. Alex Stalock made 30 saves.
The game against the Wild opens a three-game homestand for the Kings and the start of a stretch where L.A. will play eight of its final 10 games this month at Staples Center.
Los Angeles won't leave the Pacific Time Zone until Dec. 5. Minnesota won't arrive back in the Central Time Zone until mid-afternoon on Wednesday, but will travel east four separate times between Tuesday and Dec. 5.
Anze Kopitar has been the Kings' biggest offensive contributor this season, leading the club with five goals, 11 asststs and 16 points.
Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty are the only other players with at least 10 points (each has 10), with both players scoring four goals and six assists.
Jonathan Quick has been outplayed by younger counterpart Jack Campbell this season, but also has more starts. Quick has a 2-8-0 record with a 4.26 goals-against average and an .866 save percentage.
Campbell, meanwhile, is just a shade over three in the goals against (3.11) and at .886 in the percentage department.
Related:
Guerin: Wild needs more consistency as it approaches the quarter pole
