Penguins-Wild preview

Some news, notes and numbers in advance of the Penguins’ game against Minnestota at Xcel Energy Center tonight:

*** Jeff Zatkoff, who was in goal for a 5-2 victory against the Wild at Consol Energy Center earlier this season, will start for the Penguins. Ilya Bryzgalov is expected to play for the Wild.

*** Penguins forward Jussi Jokinen, who has 17 points in 19 career games against Minnesota, will not play because of an unspecified injury, apparently sustained when he absorbed a hard hit from Winnipeg defenseman Dustin Byfuglien Thursday night. Coach Dan Bylsma suggested that his absence is mostly precautionary at this point.

*** Bylsma said that forward Joe Vitale returned to Pittsburgh to have his unspecified injury examined, and that it still is not known when center Evgeni Malkin, who suffered a foot injury when he was hit with a shot 13 days ago, will be able to resume playing.

*** The Penguins, who are 4-1-1 in their past six away games, can try the franchise record for road victories if they defeat the Wild and win in Denver Sunday.

*** Minnesota is 22-7-12 in games decided by one goal.

*** The Penguins are 28-5-1 when winning the special-teams battle.

*** The Penguins have scored at least one power-play goal in six of their past eight away games.

*** Minnesota has staged a third-period comeback in each of its past three games, going 2-0-1 in that span.

*** Sidney Crosby, who has a six-game scoring streak, has nine points in six all-time appearances against the Wild.

*** The Wild has an all-time record of 3-2-1 against the Penguins in St. Paul.

*** Minnesota LW Zach Parise’s next point will be his 500th in the NHL.

*** The Wild will be playing at home for the first time in 10 days.

*** Bryzgalov is 4-0-3, with a 1.93 goals-against average and .919 save percentage since joining the Wild from Edmonton.

*** Wild defenseman Ryan Sutter has played 30 or more minutes in 36 games this season and leads the NHL in average ice time, 29 minutes and 45 seconds.

*** Minnesota left winger Matt Moulson, one of the biggest names available at the trade deadline, has five goals and four assists in 15 games since being acquired from Buffalo.