Dubnyk makes 28 saves, Wild shut out Maple Leafs
Wild Assistant Coach Darby Hendrickson was selected by Toronto in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 233 games with the Maple Leafs (1994-99). … Maple Leafs C Tyler Bozak skated in his 400th NHL game on Thursday. … Wild G Devan Dubnyk’s wife, Jen, is expected to give birth to their second child any day. … Toronto D Jake Gardiner grew up in nearby Minnetonka where he played his high school hockey. … Thursday’s contest marks the first of two consecutive games at Xcel Energy Center for the Wild, a set that finishes a stretch where six of seven Wild games are on home ice. Minnesota hosts the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday. … Toronto concludes its three-game road trip on Saturday in St. Louis.
The Wild is 10-2-1 when scoring first this season and has posted a 7-0-1 record when leading after the first period.
Minnesota is 3-2-0 vs. the Eastern Conference this season.
Ryan Suter leads the NHL in TOI/game (28:05) and has registered at least one point in 16-of-23 games this season. He has 15 points (4-11=15) in the last 15 games, and with 21 points (4-17=21) this season, leads all Wild players and ranks T-3rd amongst all NHL defensemen in scoring, entering play Wednesday.
Mikael Granlund has six points (1-5=6) in his last five games, 10 points (2-8=10) in the last 10 games
Zach Parise, despite missing eight games with a strained right MCL, has 10 points (7-3=10) in 15 games this season and ranks second on the team in goals.
Thomas Vanek has nine points (6-3=9) in the last 10 games, 16 points (8-8=16) in the last 18 games and leads the Wild in goals (10) and ranks third in points (19) this season.
Mikko Koivu has tallied at least one point in 17-of-23 games this season. The Wild captain is second on the Wild with 20 points (4-16=20) this season.