Minnesota @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2019 ) Minnesota 4, Ottawa 3

The Minnesota Wild were unable to hit the ground running in their home opener and, as a result, have limped out to their worst four-game start in franchise history. The Wild continue their pursuit of that elusive first victory on Monday afternoon when they open a three-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators.

"Yeah, it is frustrating right now, especially start of the season," Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu told reporters following Saturday's 7-4 loss to Pittsburgh. "I think you always want that first one, obviously, as soon as you can. Things are not going our way right now. We can be here and whine about it, but you got to go forward." The Wild have fared well versus the Senators in the past, sweeping Ottawa in their two-game season series in 2018-19 to record at least a point in 10 of their last 13 meetings (8-3-2) - including six of their last seven (4-1-2) at Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators stopped a franchise-worst 0-3-0 start and gave D.J. Smith his first career coaching win after former Lightning forward Vladislav Namestnikov scored twice and added an assist in Saturday's 4-2 victory over reigning Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay. "It feels great," said the 26-year-old Namestnikov, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on Monday. "Start was 0-3 but it was definitely important to get this win and (have) positive vibes and now we move forward."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin, FS North (Minnesota), TSN5, RDS (Ottawa)

ABOUT THE WILD (0-4-0): While negatives abound after its porous start to the season, Minnesota has enjoyed a positive in regard to offensive production from its defensemen. Jared Spurgeon highlighted his three-point performance by setting up Jason Zucker's goal early in the second versus the Penguins and scoring a goal later in the period to join fellow blue-liners Ryan Suter, Matt Dumba and Brad Hunt with a marker in 2019-20. The 31-year-old Hunt, in fact, matched Zucker for the team lead with his second goal while recording his club-best fourth point in the third period to trim the Wild's deficit to 6-3 against Pittsburgh.

ABOUT THE SENATORS (1-3-0): Jean-Gabriel Pageau recorded a "Gordie Howe hat trick" versus the Lightning to double his point total, tying him with Namestnikov for the team lead. "Getting that win is fantastic," the 26-year-old Pageau told the Ottawa Sun. "It's just good for our confidence. Just to know that we can compete and play against these good teams if we play the way we want is huge for our confidence." Bobby Ryan, who notched his 300th assist on Colin White's second-period goal Saturday, has collected 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) in 31 career encounters with Minnesota.

OVERTIME

1. Ottawa (0-for-12) joins Arizona, New Jersey and Anaheim as the lone NHL teams yet to convert on the power play.

2. Wild LW Zach Parise has recorded 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 31 career meetings with the Senators, including a team co-leading four (one goal, three assists) in the 2018-19 season series.

3. Ottawa G Craig Anderson sports a 6-10-3 mark with one shutout, a 3.09 goals-against average and .897 save percentage in 20 career appearances (19 starts) versus Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Wild 4, Senators 3