SoCal NHL Preview

Los Angeles (28-38-6) at Minnesota (37-26-8), 5:00 pm

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - After a pair of regulation losses and three consecutive shootout setbacks, the Minnesota Wild are happy to be facing a team they know they can beat. The Wild try to snap a five-game losing streak on Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Kings.

Minnesota, which is tied for sixth place in the Western Conference with the Calgary Flames, hasn't helped its cause in the playoff race this month, posting a dismal 1-2-3 record in March. However, the Wild's only win in their last five games came during a 2-1 overtime victory against the Kings on March 2. Marian Gaborik scored the only goal in regulation before Martin Skoula clinched the win with a tally in the extra session. Gaborik, Minnesota's leading scorer with 35 goals and 70 points this season, was held scoreless in his next five games following his goal against the Kings. He finally ending the drought in the third period during Thursday's 4-3 shootout loss to the New Jersey Devils. Gaborik hopes he can continue to find the next against the Kings, who the Wild are 6-0-1 against over the last two seasons.

The Kings broke their latest two-game slide with a decisive 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday. Alexander Frolov scored two goals to lead Los Angeles, which owns the worst record in the Western Conference with just 62 points this season.