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Oct 21, 2010 - 1:29 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (2-2-1) at Edmonton (2-2-0), 9:30 p.m. EDT

Though Edmonton has struggled to win in Minnesota, the Oilers have had their way with the Wild on home ice of late.

After dropping two straight on the road, including one in Minnesota, the Oilers return to Rexall Place looking for a fourth consecutive home victory over the Wild on Thursday night.

The home team has dominated this series between these Northwest Division foes in recent seasons. Edmonton (2-2-0) would like to see that continue.

Although the Oilers are 0-12-2 at Minnesota since January 2007, they have won seven of eight at home over the Wild. Playing for the first time since losing 5-3 at Calgary on Saturday, Edmonton looks to even the season series after falling 4-2 at Minnesota in its road opener last Thursday.

"I thought we had a couple decent periods in Minnesota, but we have to put a full 60 together here," forward Gilbert Brule told the Oilers' official website.

If the Oilers are to open the season with a third straight win at home, they will likely need to contain the league's best power-play unit. Minnesota (2-2-1) has converted 11 of 24 power-play chances and all but five of the teams' goals have come on the man advantage.

The Wild were 4 of 6 with the man advantage against Edmonton last week.

"That pretty much decided the game, so we'll have to be really solid on our (penalty kill), stay out of the box, and be good on our power-play, and on five-on-five hopefully we'll get some goals as well," Oilers defenseman Ladislav Smid said.

Matt Cullen, who had a goal with an assist against the Oilers, tallied a power-play goal as Minnesota went 3 for 3 with the extra man during a 6-2 win over Vancouver on Tuesday.

The veteran forward has two goals and four assists in his last three games with his new team. Cullen scored in each of his last two contests versus Edmonton.

Six different players scored Tuesday for the Wild, who have played four of their first five games at home.

"It's not about individuals," forward John Madden said.

Niklas Backstrom, who has a 2.38 goals-against average while starting all five games for the Wild, stopped 24 shots against the Oilers last week. Backstrom is 12-0-0 with a 1.16 GAA at home against the Oilers, but is 3-2-1 with a 2.91 GAA at Edmonton.

Edmonton's Dustin Penner has scored in three straight games overall, and has three goals in his last two versus Minnesota.

While the Wild have thrived on the power play this season, they are 1 for 9 in that area during a three-game skid at Edmonton.

The Oilers, meanwhile, are 1 for 13 on the power play over the last three games overall.

"We just have to get pucks to the net and there's a price to pay beyond that," Oilers coach Tom Renney said.

Nikolai Khabibulin has a 2.53 GAA while playing every game this season for the Oilers. He made 20 saves last Thursday and fell to 4-8-2 with a 2.51 GAA against the Wild.