Minnesota @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 23, 2018 ) Minnesota 4, NY Rangers 1

The Minnesota Wild are free-falling back to the pack in the race for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the victims of a swoon that has produced one win in their last 10 games since the All-Star break. Mired in a five-game losing streak, the Wild will attempt to avoid a third consecutive shutout when they visit the New York Rangers on Thursday night.

Minnesota earned just one point on its four-game homestand after it suffered its second consecutive 4-0 defeat to Anaheim on Tuesday night to fall to 1-6-3 over the last 10 games. “I guess any way it can go wrong, it will,” Wild forward Jason Zucker said. “That’s what’s happening this year.” The Rangers salvaged a split of their four-game road trip with a 2-1 win at Carolina on Tuesday but they are 5-5-1 in 11 games since the All-Star break and nine points out of the second wild card in the East. “I don’t think the chase and the hunt for the playoffs is over by any means for us here in the locker room,” forward Mika Zibanejad said. "For us, we just take it game by game. It’s that simple. We can’t look ahead.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), MSG (New York)

ABOUT THE WILD (27-27-6): After blowing two big leads to start the homestand, Minnesota had been held without a goal for 156 minutes and is approaching the franchise record of 180:07 set in 2002. "I think we're playing better. That's a good thing," defenseman Ryan Suter insisted. "We just can't score right now. I think if we can figure that out, I think we're getting the rest of our game in order. If we can figure out the scoring side of it I think we'll be fine." With trade rumors swirling, the Wild traded forward Charlie Coyle to Boston on Wednesday in exchange for forward Ryan Donato and a fifth-round draft pick.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (26-25-8): Henrik Lundqvist had been struggling for New York, serving as backup for three of the previous four games before turning in a stellar outing against the Hurricanes with a season-high 43 saves. While the No. 1 line has been carrying the Rangers, Vladislav Namestnikov scored for the third time in three games at Carolina while Connor Brickley notched his first goal of the season. “It’s taken me a little while to get back into the NHL,” said Brickley, acquired from Nashville last month. “I’m getting a little second opportunity here and I’m trying to make the most of my opportunity.”

OVERTIME

1. Donato, 22, had six goals and nine points in 34 games with Boston this season.

2. Rangers F Mats Zuccarello has 10 points in 11 games against Minnesota.

3. Wild F Eric Staal had five points in two wins over New York last season but has been held off the scoresheet in nine straight games.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Wild 2