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Wild hope to find consistency at home

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:33 AM Columbus (8-7-2) at Minnesota (9-4-1) 8:00 p.m. EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild have struggled to find consistency over their last six games. They hope a return home will solve that problem.

The Wild look to earn back-to-back wins for the first time in November when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Minnesota has alternated wins and losses over its last six games and is coming off a 4-0 blanking of the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday - five days after enduring a shutout of its own against the Vancouver Canucks.

Nicklas Backstrom stopped the 24 shots he faced against the Coyotes, improving to 4-0-1 with a 2.00 goals-against average at Xcel Energy Center, where the Wild are 4-1-1.

Minnesota should continue its impressive play at home against the Blue Jackets, who are 1-8-1 in their last 10 road games against the Wild.

However, Columbus has won four of its last five, including a 6-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday. R.J. Umberger scored twice and rookie Derick Brassard extended his goal-scoring streak to three games, supporting goalie Pascal Leclaire in his return to the crease.

Leclaire made 36 saves in his first appearance since October 25 due to a sprained ankle. With the win, the 26-year-old netminder improved to 4-3-0 with a 3.08 GAA.