Los Angeles @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 8, 2018 ) Minnesota 3, Los Angeles 1

The Minnesota Wild hope a quick return to the ice will alter their recent fortunes on Tuesday as they open a three-game homestand bidding to complete a season sweep of the Los Angeles Kings. The Wild failed to take advantage of an early two-goal lead and sustained their third loss in four outings with a 7-4 setback at lowly Philadelphia on Monday.

Captain Mikko Koivu, who set up Jason Zucker's first-period goal to push his assist streak to three games, scored in the Wild's 4-1 triumph over Los Angeles on Oct. 25 at Xcel Energy Center before setting up all three of his team's tallies in a 3-1 win over the Kings at Staples Center on Nov. 8. The 35-year-old Finn, who has 41 points (12 goals, 29 assists) in his career against Los Angeles, resides one goal shy of 200. Minnesota has collected a point in 11 of its last 12 encounters (7-1-4) against a Los Angeles club that is opening a three-game road trip looking to feed off an inspiring 5-2 win versus Pittsburgh on Saturday. Captain Anze Kopitar tallied twice to boost his team-leading totals in goals (13) and points (31) heading into the confrontation with the Wild, against whom he has recorded 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 44 matches.

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

ABOUT THE KINGS (18-25-3): Jonathan Quick moved into a tie with Mike Richter for fourth place among American goaltenders after recording his 301st career win following a 38-save performance versus the Penguins. The 32-year-old will look to snap that tie against the Wild, versus whom he owns a 13-7-4 mark in 24 career starts. Jeff Carter, who will play in his 950th career contest Tuesday, notched his second three-point performance of the season on Saturday to eclipse the two points he mustered in his previous seven games.

ABOUT THE WILD (22-20-3): Devan Dubnyk was pulled for the fourth time since Nov. 21 on Monday after yielding five goals of 20 shots -- ironically on the four-year anniversary of Minnesota acquiring him in a trade. The 32-year-old Dubnyk has fared significantly better against the Kings, posting a 2-0-0 mark with a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage versus the club this season to improve his totals to 9-5-2, 2.33 and .926 in 17 career encounters. Zach Parise had an assist on Monday to push his point total to 12 (four goals, eight assists) in his last 10 games heading into the tilt with Los Angeles, against which he has 19 career points (seven goals, 12 assists) -- including three this season.

OVERTIME

1. Los Angeles C Alex Iafallo, who has a career-high 10 goals this season, has failed to dent the scoresheet in each of his three career meetings with Minnesota.

2. Wild D Ryan Suter has 24 points (one goal, 23 assists) in 45 career encounters against the Kings.

3. Los Angeles RW Dustin Brown has 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 46 games versus Minnesota.

PREDICTION: Kings 3, Wild 2