(Sports Network) - After having a three-game winning streak snapped last night, the Minnesota Wild will try to pick up a fifth straight victory in Sunrise as they visit the Florida Panthers and BankAtlantic Center.
The Wild had picked up three straight one-goal victories before being bested on Thursday by the Thrashers, 5-1. Playing for the first time in six games due to a concussion, Antti Miettinen scored the lone goal and Niklas Backstrom made 29 saves.
"We've got to be a lot sharper in our end. That's where the game starts," Backstrom said.
While the Wild got Miettinen back into the lineup, they were without forwards Guillaume Latendresse and Chuck Kobasew and defenseman Marek Zidlicky due to groin injuries. That trio is not traveling with the club as Minnesota plays the third contest of a four-game road trip.
Miettinen, who posted a career-high 20 goals last year, has three goals and seven points in nine games this year as well as a pair of tallies and five points lifetime against Florida.
The Wild have not lost in Sunrise since Feb. 7, 2001 during their first season in the NHL. They have won four straight trips there since, notching a 6-2 victory in their last contest in Florida on Oct. 16, 2008. However, Florida did post a 3-2 shootout win in Minnesota last year to snap a seven-game series losing streak overall.
Jose Theodore is expected to get the start in net tonight for the Wild and is 7-2-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average in his last nine versus the Panthers.
Florida had lost four of six heading into Wednesday's home meeting with Toronto, but got on track with a 4-1 victory. Michael Frolik scored in his third straight game and added two assists to match a career high with three points.
Frolik has four goals and four assists over a five-game point streak and scored in last year's shootout win over the Wild.
"We're starting to play together here," said Frolik. "You just have to keep working and it will show. We're gonna build on this and try to keep it rolling."
Shawn Matthias had a goal and an assist while Bryan Allen and Steven Reinprecht each scored once for the Panthers. Tomas Vokoun stopped 32 shots in the win.
Vokoun is 7-6-0 with three ties and a 2.35 GAA in his career versus the Wild, including 1-2 since joining the Panthers.
Forward Radek Dvorak is set to pass Robert Svehla as the franchise's all-time games played leader tonight as he is slated to appear in his 574th career game with the Panthers.
Both Cory Stillman (shoulder) and Jason Garrison (groin) are questionable to return from injury tonight.