Chicago @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 15, 2019 ) Minnesota 3, Chicago 5

The Minnesota Wild are sitting in the basement of the Central Division, a spot that was occupied by the Chicago Blackhawks the last time the teams met in mid-December. The teams have gone in opposite directions since and the resurgent Blackhawks will be bidding for their seventh victory in eight games when they visit the Wild on Tuesday night.

Chicago has won 13 of its last 19 since the 5-3 victory over Minnesota to draw within one point of Arizona for the second wild card in the Western Conference. "We're going to have to have the points,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said after 3-2 shootout win over the Coyotes. "As we go forward, the points are huge, We're not going to catch anyone by surprise, especially these teams that we're trying to chase now, that we're battling." The Wild have dropped 11 points in the standings to Chicago since the last meeting, suffering their eighth loss in 12 games with a 6-1 drubbing by visiting Boston on Saturday night. "It's about response now," forward Eric Staal said of the shellacking. "We have to have some good practice days and get re-energized and get back in the win column on Tuesday."

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (25-21-6): Chicago has won eight of nine away from home and extended its road winning streak to four behind leading scorer Patrick Kane, who collected two assists and notched the decisive tally in the shootout to stretch his point streak to a dozen games. Kane has tormented the Wild throughout his career with 24 goals and 49 points in 50 games, including his lone hat trick of the season in the victory in December. Captain Jonathan Toews had three assists in that contest and needs one point to reach 800.

ABOUT THE WILD (23-22-6): Minnesota was burned by three power-play goals in the loss to Boston, continuing a dismal two-month span in which it has surrendered 26 goals in 75 short-handed situations. "We've got to figure that out," defenseman Matt Dumba said. "I think everyone has to hold each other accountable, hold themselves accountable for what's going on on the penalty kill because it hasn't been good here for the last couple months." Forward Mats Zuccarello had the lone goal versus Boston for his third in four games.

OVERTIME

1. Blackhawks F Brandon Saad has scored four goals in the last four games.

2. Wild F Kevin Fiala has one goal in 17 games since scoring twice versus the Blackhawks.

3. Chicago claimed D Nick Seeler off waivers from the Wild.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks 4, Wild 2