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Wild vs. Devils: Mats Zuccarello back as Minnesota looks to extend streak

By Tim Johnson

Mats Zuccarello was cleared to return to the Minnesota Wild lineup ahead of Thursday's matchup with New Jersey. Zuccarello had missed the past two games with a hand injury. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Mats Zuccarello was cleared to return to the Minnesota Wild lineup ahead of Thursday's matchup with New Jersey. Zuccarello had missed the past two games with a hand injury. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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98. Wild -1.5. 7 p.m. CST. 85. Thursday, Dec. 2. 15-6-1. 9-7-4. Bally Sports North

The Minnesota Wild, riding a four-game winning streak, get a key contributor back in the lineup on Thursday

Mats Zuccarello, who suffered a hand injury in the second period of Friday’s game against Winnipeg, was officially cleared to play ahead of a matchup with New Jersey.

Zuccarello has six goals and 16 points so far for the Wild. He also has a plus/minus rating of +9.

In addition, Kaapo Kahkonen will be making the second of back-to-back starts in net as the Wild look to improve to 4-0 on their current homestand. Minnesota has outscored its four opponents 16-5 over that stretch.

The homestand, the Wild’s second-longest of the season, ends on Saturday with a matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kahkonen has a 5-3-1 record this year with a 3.04 goals against average and a .885 saves percentage. He stopped 29 shots in a 5-2 victory over Arizona on Tuesday.

This is the Wild’s second matchup with New Jersey in the past eight days.

Minnesota beat the Devils 3-2 in a shootout last Wednesday at the Prudential Center.

The Wild roll into Thursday with 31 points, four more that second-place St. Louis in the Central Division.  Minnesota also is tied with the Calgary Flames for second in the Western Conference overall, a point behind the Edmonton Oilers.

New Jersey enters Thursday night having lost three of its past four games.

Minnesota is 4-0-2 over the last six games against New Jersey.

Live streaming: fuboTV

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Betting odds

The Wild vs. Devils odds on WynnBET has Minnesota as a 1.5 goal favorite at the Xcel Energy Center. The Wild are listed as -175 favorite on the moneyline with New Jersey the underdog at +157 The total goals is set at an over/under of six.

Upcoming Wild schedule

Saturday, Dec. 4: Toronto,  6 p.m. CST

Tuesday, Dec. 7: @Edmonton, 8 p.m. CST

Thursday, Dec. 9: @San Jose, 9 p.m. CST

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