Minnesota @ Ottawa preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 21, 2018 ) Ottawa 4, Minnesota 6

Offense has been at a premium over the past three weeks for the struggling Minnesota Wild, who picked the right time to break out of their slumber in the opener of a four-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs. After beating Toronto for just its second win in eight games, Minnesota continues its trek at the reeling Ottawa Senators on Saturday afternoon.

The Wild actually have played well over the past three games, answering a five-game skid with a 3-1 victory at Winnipeg and a 3-2 loss to red-hot Pittsburgh. "It's one win right now, two in three, so you just want to build on it," Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu said. The Wild have won five in a row against Ottawa, which extended its losing streak to a season-worst six games (0-5-1) with Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to Vancouver. "We're trying not to roll over in here," Senators forward Stone said. "Guys are competing. We understand this is our job and our job is to win."

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

ABOUT THE WILD (19-17-3): Minnesota has needed an offensive lift from the blue line since defenseman Matt Dumba was injured in mid-December, and Jared Spurgeon provided one with a career high-tying three-point game against the Maple Leafs -- his second of the season and fifth career. Spurgeon, who was held off the scoresheet in the previous seven games, notched the tying goal and also registered five blocked shots for the second time in the last three contests. “No one’s going to replace Dumbs, what he brings,” Spurgeon said of Dumba's absence. “But ... I think we can do a better job of just getting shots on net."

ABOUT THE SENATORS (15-21-5): Desperately in need of something positive, Ottawa coach Guy Boucher confirmed that center Jean-Gabriel Pageau will rejoin the lineup for Sunday's home game against Carolina -- well ahead of the timetable expected after he tore his Achilles tendon in September. “It’s terrific news,” Boucher said Friday. “This is like a miracle, really. That’s not just ahead of time, it’s way ahead of time. There’s clearance there so we’re more than happy.” Goaltender Anders Nilsson, acquired in a trade with Vancouver on Wednesday, will make his debut for the Senators against Minnesota.

OVERTIME

1. Wild F Zach Parise, a "Last Men In" candidate for the All-Star Game, has goals in three of the past four contests.

2. Nilsson is 1-4-0 with a 3.23 goals-against average versus Minnesota, including a 3-2 defeat on Dec. 4.

3. Wild F Eric Staal has 19 goals and 46 points in 48 games versus Ottawa.

PREDICTION: Wild 4, Senators 2