Wild hope to get win streak started against Coyotes

(SportsNetwork.com) - After putting an emphatic close on their six-game losing streak, the Minnesota Wild hope to pick up consecutive wins on Saturday night for the first time in nearly two months as they host the Arizona Coyotes.

The Wild could also turn to a former Coyotes netminder as they try for their first winning streak since a four-game run from Nov. 13-20.

Minnesota ended an 0-5-1 skid with a 7-0 thrashing of the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. The victory came in the debut of Devan Dubnyk, who turned aside all 18 shots faced just one day after being acquired in a trade with Arizona.

Dubnyk picked up his second shutout of the season and 10th of his career. He had gone 9-5-2 with a 2.72 goals against average and .916 save percentage in 19 games with the Coyotes, outplaying No. 1 Mike Smith in net.

Smith, though, is signed through 2018-19 with a $5.67 million cap hit. so the struggling Coyotes opted to move Dubnyk for a 2015 third-round pick.

Minnesota was in need of goaltending help with Niklas Backstrom struggling and Darcy Kuemper out with an undisclosed injury.

The Wild made sure to give Dubnyk plenty of support, with seven different skaters scoring a goal.

"It was great. There were some nerves at the start, but the guys made it easy on me right from the drop of the puck," noted Dubnyk. "They were working and really just controlling the play for the entire game. That was probably one of the most complete games that I've been a part of from start to finish."

Dubnyk could get the call against his former team tonight and is 2-6-2 in 11 previous meetings (10 starts) with a 3.26 GAA and .900 save percentage.

While Dubnyk probably can't count on another seven goals of support, the Wild had to be glad that their offense was able to pot more than three tallies in a game for the first time since a 6-5 overtime loss to Nashville on Dec. 20. Zach Parise, Kyle Brodziak, Thomas Vanek and Erik Haula all posted a goal and an assist, while Jason Pominville had three assists for Minnesota.

The Wild moved to 3-8-4 in their past 15 games despite key defenseman Ryan Suter serving the first contest of a two-game suspension for an elbow to the head of Pittsburgh's Steve Downie on Tuesday.

The Coyotes, meanwhile, kick off an eight-game road trip after losing the final three games of a 2-4-0 homestand. They closed out the residency with Thursday's 4-1 setback to the Calgary Flames, who scored three goals in the third period.

Arizona has been outscored 55-25 in the third period this season.

Mikkel Boedker extended his goal-scoring streak to a career-high straight four games, while Smith made 21 saves.

"It's not worth talking about one person when you're losing or when you're winning. We're a team," Boedker said.

Smith, who is now backed up by Michael Lee, is 4-7-1 versus the Wild with a 2.12 GAA and .914 save percentage.

The Wild have won four in a row over the Coyotes, including a 4-3 shootout victory in Arizona on Dec. 13.