Minnesota @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 19, 2018 ) Minnesota 5, NY Islanders 3

The Minnesota Wild are feeling a bit better about themselves as they visit the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon. Minnesota, which owns the top wild card spot in the Western Conference, snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory at New Jersey on Saturday as it continues to learn what life is like without captain Mikko Koivu.

Koivu suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday but players such as Joel Eriksson Ek, who was recalled from Iowa of the AHL to replace Koivu, stepped up by scoring Saturday for the second straight game. "We were looking to snap out of the funk, it's good to get back in the win column for us with the standings and with losing Mikko we have to find something positive, and today will be the start of playing some better hockey," the Wild's Zach Parise told the media after scoring Saturday. New York and its air-tight defense continue to lead the Metropolitan Division after Saturday's 4-3 overtime victory over Colorado gave it three wins in its last four games and an 18-4-2 mark in its past 24. The Islanders, who allow an league-least 2.35 goals per game after yielding a league-most 3.57 last season, haven't allowed more than three in the last 13 games.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), MSG Plus (New York)

ABOUT THE WILD (27-23-5): Parise leads the club with 22 goals and 47 points with Mikael Granlund (44) in close pursuit. The team received a huge lift Saturday from its third line consisting of Marcus Foligno, Luke Kunin and Ek, who all scored and have a total of 11 goals this season. Defenseman Greg Pateryn had an assist against New Jersey, giving him two in the last three games and three in 54 contests this season.

ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (32-16-6): Defenseman Ryan Pulock has five goals this season after scoring twice Saturday - including the winner - for the second time in his career and first in 2018-19. Thomas Greiss (15-8-2, 2.33 goals-against average, .926 save percentage), who has won three of his last four starts, is expected to play after Robin Lehner made 25 saves Saturday. Jordan Eberle recorded a goal and an assist versus Colorado, giving him two of his 13 goals this season in the last three games.

OVERTIME

1. New York RW Cal Clutterbuck did not play Saturday after leaving Thursday's 2-1 shootout victory at New Jersey with what appeared to be a knee injury.

2. The Islanders haven't allowed a power-play goal in 11 of their last 12 games, going 27-for-29 during that span and 11-for-11 in their past five.

3. Minnesota has won the last three meetings, recording 17 goals in the process with Jason Zucker scoring three in two games last season.

PREDICTION: Islanders 3, Wild 2