The Minnesota Wild are on the outside looking in for the Western Conference playoff picture. Six points behind eighth place Dallas, the Wild need a road win over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night to get the month of March started off on the right foot.
The Wild were shut out 4-0 at home by the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, despite outshooting the Kings by a 25-15 margin. Scoring has been a problem for the Wild this season. Their 139 goals is the second-lowest total in the Western Conference. They have a goal differential of -28, also second-worst in the Conference.
Times have been even harder for the Canadiens. Sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference standings, Montreal has lost their last five games and are 1-7 in their last eight.
Minnesota has not played Montreal since December 2009, when they posted a 3-1 victory.
The Wild are without captain Mikko Koivu, who re-aggravated a shoulder injury, forcing him out for another two weeks.
Game Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Television: Fox Sports North
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