ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Wild will try to continue its franchise best winning streak when it returns to Xcel Energy Center on Thursday to host the New York Islanders.
Minnesota hopes to avenge a 6-3 loss to the Islanders at Barclays Center back in October, one of just two games this season in which the Wild has allowed more than four goals in a game. It's the only game Minnesota has lost by more than one goal.
Much has changed since that contest, however.
The Wild was playing the second half of back-to-back games that night, its first set of consecutive games this season. The loss kept Minnesota winless through its first three road games and dropped the Wild to 3-2-1 on the season.
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The Islanders have been inconsistent this season and are currently hovering at .500 with a record of 14-14-6. But their game has been on the upswing of late, having won each of their past three games. Included in that stretch is a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
"They're playing good now," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau. "They're feeling it and they'll probably continue to get better. But we have to play the way we're capable of playing. If we do that, and play with structure, and get our skating legs, we're usually a hard team to beat."
If history is any indication, expect a close game on Thursday: Seven of the 10 meetings between the teams in St. Paul have been decided by one goal. Minnesota is 5-1-1 in those games, however.
New York is led offensively by John Tavares, who has 24 points in 34 games this season. His 10 goals are second most after Edina native Anders Lee, who has a team-leading 13 goals.
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oops, my bad .... was thinking it was a road game.
