The Wild are off to a tremendous start to the 2024-25 season.
Despite a loss to league-best Winnipeg, Minnesota played well Monday night. They out shot the Jets 44-32 and just ran into a hot goalie.
They also got Kirill Kaprizov back in the lineup after a one-game absence with a lower-body injury suffered Thursday in Edmonton. The NHL’s No. 2 scorer had his franchise-record 11-game point streak snapped but he's been fantastic so far.
Their opponent on Wednesday night has a five-game point streak going against the Wild but they've all been close games. Four of the last six games went to either overtime or a shootout.
One more thing in the Wild's favor? They have been better on the road. So far, they're 9-1-3 away from the Xcel Energy Center.
PREVIEW
Minnesota Wild (13-4-4, in the Central Division) vs. Buffalo Sabres (11-9-1, in the Atlantic Division)
Buffalo, New York; Wednesday, 6 p.m.
BOTTOM LINE: The Buffalo Sabres take on the Minnesota Wild with a three win streak intact.
Bufflo has an 11-9-1 record overall and a 6-5-0 record on its home ice. The Sabres have gone 9-3-1 in games they score at least three goals.
Minnesota is 13-4-4 overall and 9-1-3 in road games. The Wild have a 7-1-2 record in games they convert at least one power play.
Wednesday’s game is the first meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Alex Tuch has seven goals and 14 assists for the Sabres. Zachary Benson has scored goals over the past 10 games.
Kirill Kaprizov has 13 goals and 21 assists for the Wild. Marat Khusnutdinov has scored goals over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Sabres: 7-3-0, averaging 3.3 goals, 5.2 assists, 5.2 penalties and 11 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Wild: 5-3-2, averaging 2.9 goals, 4.7 assists, 3.5 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Sabres: None listed.
Wild: None listed.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.