from Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal,

The chances of the Oilers actually digging in and beating the Wild in Minny are slender, to say the least, where they’ve only lost 19 of the last 20 to the Wild, outscoring the Oilers 69-32. Yeah, 19 of 20. Where Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom is 17-0 against them at the Xcel Energy Center, with a 1.34 average, a .948 save percentage and only twice has he surrendered more than two goals. Backstrom always looks like a cross between Glenn Hall and Marty Brodeur against the Oilers in Minny.

One sliver of hope for the Oilers? The Wild, currently eighth (53 points, tied with Columbus but with more seasonal victories), have scored six goals in its last six games at home. And the Oilers have the eighth best road record in the West, where they’ve won more games (9) than at home.

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