Minnesota @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 13, 2018 ) Florida 1, Minnesota 5

Jason Zucker hopes for a repeat performance when the Minnesota Wild continue their quest for a top-three spot in the Central Division on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Zucker registered his second career hat trick on Thursday as the Wild topped Tampa Bay to remain within four points of St. Louis for third in the Central.

Devan Dubnyk made 25 saves against the league-leading Lightning for his second shutout of the season for Minnesota, which extended its point streak to eight games (6-0-2) and strengthened its hold on a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Zucker provided all the offense in Thursday's 3-0 victory as he has reached the 20-goal plateau for the third straight campaign by tallying six times in as many contests. Florida squandered a pair of third-period leads on Thursday and lost in devastating fashion, allowing two goals in the final 37 seconds of the session en route to a 4-3 setback in Boston. Jonathan Huberdeau netted two tallies and set up another for the Panthers, who enter Friday with a six-game winless streak (0-2-4).

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS North, FS Wisconsin (Minnesota), FS Florida

ABOUT THE WILD (33-27-8): Ryan Donato has proven to be a strong acquisition since coming over from Boston on Feb. 20 for Charlie Coyle. The 22-year-old Donato recorded two assists against Tampa Bay, giving him nine points in eight games with Minnesota after he registered nine in 34 contests with the Bruins. Dubnyk, who has gone 6-0-1 over his last seven starts, could be in net again on Friday as he has started on consecutive days twice last month.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS (28-27-12): Huberdeau, who reached the 20-goal mark for the second consecutive season and third time in his career on Thursday, has collected seven tallies and nine assists over his last 11 games. Captain Aleksander Barkov leads the team with 70 points after registering a goal and an assist against the Bruins. The 23-year-old Finn's goal was his 29th of the campaign, eclipsing the previous career high he set in 2015-16, and 10th in 11 contests.

OVERTIME

1. Wild C Eric Staal is riding an eight-game point streak during which he has collected two goals and eight assists.

2. Florida D Keith Yandle notched a pair of assists on Thursday to increase his season total to 45 - three shy of the career high he set in 2010-11 with the Phoenix Coyotes and matched last campaign.

3. Minnesota has gone 5-0-1 in its last six road contests, including a 1-0-1 mark on its three-game trek.

PREDICTION: Wild 4, Panthers 2