Wild Vs. Kings: Minnesota Could Close Western Conference Gap

Playoff hopes are teetering for both sides as the Minnesota Wild host the slumping Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.

Checking in at 12^th in the Western Conference standings, Minnesota is 28-25-9 and has 65 points. The Kings, meanwhile, are 10^th in the West with a 28-23-12 record and 68 points.

With less than a quarter of the season remaining, there isn't much more time to make up ground.

The Wild could have some new players in the lineup for this one. Minnesota acquired a trio of players from New Jersey last week – Kurtis Foster, Nick Palmieri and Stephane Veilleux. And on Monday the Wild made a few more moves, acquiring defenseman Steve Kampfer from Boston in exchange for Greg Zanon, and sending Nick Schultz to Edmonton in exchange for Tom Gilbery.

The Wild might be catching the Kings at the right time. L.A. has lost five of six and seven of nine, the most recent setback coming Monday against Nashville.

These two split their two meetings this season, each of which were in L.A. The most recent matchup was a 4-2 Wild win on Dec. 8. On Nov. 12, the Kings tied a season-high with five goals in a 5-2 drubbing of the Wild.

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