Edmonton @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 7, 2018 ) Minnesota 2, Edmonton 7

The fortunes of the Minnesota Wild went from bad to worse on their off day upon learning that captain Mikko Koivu will miss the remainder of the season after tearing the ACL and meniscus in his right knee. Clinging to the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference, the Wild vie to snap a three-game losing streak (0-1-2) on Thursday when they host the skidding Edmonton Oilers.

Koivu, who is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (973), points (688), assists (487) and game-winning goals (33), was injured after colliding with Tage Thompson in the first period of Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to Buffalo. Charlie Coyle stepped up in place of the 35-year-old Finn and collected a goal, an assist and a plus-3 rating versus the Sabres. While Minnesota adjusts to life without Koivu, Edmonton has gotten used to life without a victory as it dropped a season high-tying sixth straight (0-4-2) with Tuesday's 6-2 setback versus Chicago. "Same type of thing as the last couple of games. We control a lot of the first two (periods), and then go to sleep in the third," Oilers captain Connor McDavid said.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, Sportsnet West (Edmonton), FS Wisconsin, FS North-Plus (Minnesota)

ABOUT THE OILERS (23-25-5): Leon Draisaitl has recorded consecutive two-goal performances heading into the tilt with Minnesota, against which he scored and set up a goal in a 4-3 setback on Oct. 30 and had two tallies and an assist in a 7-2 romp on Dec. 7. McDavid (two goals, three assists) also has five points versus the Wild this season and 12 (six goals, six assists) in 11 career encounters. Cam Talbot started both contests against Minnesota this season and will get the nod on Thursday to face the Wild, versus whom he is 5-6-1 with a 2.53 goals-against average with a .918 save percentage in 12 career starts.

ABOUT THE WILD (26-22-5): Zach Parise scored with 1:37 remaining on Tuesday to forge a 4-4 tie and give him five points (two goals, three assists) in his last six games. Edmonton native Jared Spurgeon tallied twice against the Sabres to net the offensive defenseman 13 points (six goals, seven assists) since the start of January. Devan Dubnyk owns a 9-3-0 mark with two shutouts, a 1.59 goals-against average and .937 save percentage in 12 career starts versus an Oilers team that selected him with the 14th overall pick of the 2004 NHL Draft.

OVERTIME

1. Minnesota boasts a 15-6-1 mark in the last 22 games against the Edmonton.

2. Oilers C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has collected 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 23 career contests versus the Wild.

3. Minnesota reached out to Iowa of the American Hockey League and recalled F Joel Eriksson Ek, who has two goals and five assists in 36 games with the NHL's Wild this season.

PREDICTION: Oilers 4, Wild 2