• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Wild-Ducks Preview

Dec 29, 2009 - 7:35 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Minnesota (20-16-3) at Anaheim (15-16-7), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Eric Belanger made certain that the Minnesota Wild's resurgence continued. A meeting with the last-place Anaheim Ducks could also help the Wild maintain their momentum.

Minnesota continues a stretch of four games in six nights Tuesday when it goes for a four-game winning streak at Anaheim.

The Wild (20-16-3) appeared to be headed toward overtime Monday after Los Angeles' Scott Parse scored with 2:37 to play, but Belanger found the net just 12 seconds later to secure a 4-3 win.

"They were down by two goals, and their defense was much more active and much more aggressive in the offensive zone," coach Todd Richards said. "But good teams find ways to win and character teams find ways to win. What a big goal by Belanger after they scored and had all the momentum. The crowd was boisterous and loud, and then our goal went in and put everyone back in their seats."

Belanger, who spent his first five NHL seasons with the Kings, has come up big lately. The center had two goals and an assist Monday after setting up the eventual winner by Guillaume Latendresse in the third period of Saturday's 4-3 win over St. Louis.

Minnesota will host Los Angeles on Thursday, concluding a stretch of four games in six nights.

Before that, the Wild will try to continue their strong play against the Ducks (15-16-7), who are at the bottom of the Pacific Division.

Minnesota has been one of the hottest teams in the league, going 13-4-1 after winning just seven of its first 21 (7-12-2). The club's current surge also includes a 5-4 shootout win over Anaheim on Dec. 4.

The Wild have taken four of the last five meetings with the Ducks, but dropped their last visit to Honda Center 3-2 on Oct. 14 despite a goal and an assist from Belanger.

He has two goals and three assists in three games this season against Anaheim.

The Ducks are trying to rebound from Saturday's 5-2 loss at San Jose despite outshooting the division-leading Sharks 10-3 in the third period. The defeat came three nights after falling 4-0 at Phoenix following a 5-1-1 stretch.

"We had all kinds of shots," coach Randy Carlyle said of Saturday's loss. "On one power play we had six scoring chances. We just didn't find a way to put it over the line."

Bobby Ryan seeks to continue his strong play after scoring against the Sharks. The left wing has six goals and six assists in the last 11 games, including a two-goal performance at Minnesota earlier this month.

He leads the Ducks with 17 goals and his 30 points are third to team-leaders Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry (41).

Perry has struggled to find the net lately, coming up empty in six consecutive games while getting just three goals in the last 20. Despite those struggles, he's still managed four assists in the last four games.

Perry has five goals and three assists in eight home meetings with Minnesota.