Oct 31, 2009 10:09 am US/Eastern
Wild Vs. Penguins Preview
By: Casey Shea
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Chris Kunitz has scored goals in two straight games. (File)
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins (11-2-0) return home to the Igloo Saturday night to take on the Minnesota Wild (4-9-0) before embarking on a four-game road trip.
The Wild held off the New York Rangers 3-2 Friday night in what was supposed to be Marian Gaborik's return home, but he sat out the game with a right leg injury.
The Rangers could have used him, as they trailed 3-1 after two periods and only managed to get one puck past Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom, who improved to 4-7 on the season.
Despite the Wild's losing record this season, Backstrom has been solid in goal by posting a 2.63 GAA and .910 save percentage.
Minnesota's problems seem to be a lack of scoring and road woes.
In 13 games, the Wild have only managed 29 goals.
They also haven't figured out how to win on the road. They have come up empty in all eight road games this season, but hold a 4-1 record at home.
In those eight road losses, they've been held to two or fewer goals seven times. The only game they scored more than two, they lost 6-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 8.
Minnesota is led by Mikko Koivu (three goals, nine assists), Andrew Brunette (seven goals, four assists) and Eric Belanger (three goals, eight assists).
After those three guys there's a considerable drop-off.
Two players are tied with six points and it goes lower from there.
Former Penguin, Petr Sykora has two goals and one assist in seven games this season, including a goal and assist against the Rangers on Friday.
The Penguins lost the only meeting with Minnesota last year 2-1 in a shootout.
The key for Pittsburgh's continued success while injured players Sergei Gonchar, Max Talbot, Evgeni Malkin and Tyler Kennedy are out, is to continue to get productivity from guys not named Sidney Crosby, Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz.
Alex Goligoski is off to an incredible start to the season on the offensive side of things, with five goals and seven assists. He's currently third on the team in total points and holds a team-high plus-13 rating.
Marc-Andre Fleury is expected to be back in goal tonight and will look to get his first career-win against the Wild.
In his two previous starts against Minnesota, Fleury is 0-2 with a 5.36 GAA and .794 save percentage.
The puck will drop at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on FSN Pittsburgh.
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