Wild @ Blue Jackets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Minnesota Wild (14-8-2)

@ Columbus Blue Jackets (14-8-2)

Starting Goalies:

Devan Dubnyk (MIN): Confirmed

Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ): Unconfirmed

Current odds:

Minnesota Wild: (+105)

Columbus Blue Jackets: (-125)

• An inability to finish has plagued the Minnesota Wild, who are showing an alarming inability to protect third-period leads on their home ice over the past 11 games. After frittering away a two-goal cushion in a 4-3 setback to Arizona on Tuesday, the Wild will look to get back on track when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night. Not only did Minnesota wilt against the Coyotes, but it was unable to hold a three-goal lead against Ottawa last week and gave up two third-period tallies in a 2-1 loss to Buffalo on Nov. 17.

• The Blue Jackets nearly squandered a pair of huge leads in Monday’s 7-5 win at Detroit, having to hold off a comeback after scoring the first three goals and building a 5-1 edge. Columbus, which trails first-place Washington by one point in the Metropolitan Division, is 7-2-1 over a 10-game stretch that included six away contests.

• Goaltender Devan Dubnyk is mired in his first three-game winless drought of the season, all coming as a result of Minnesota’s third-period collapses. “As far as plays and different situations in the game, it’s a strange, little three-game stretch here,” Dubnyk said. “But the worst thing you can do is let it affect the things that have been going well here. It becomes a challenge. That’s part of sports, and you gotta work a little harder to make sure you don’t go changing anything.” Dubnyk owns a 10-6-3 record with a 2.35 goals-against average versus Columbus.

• The future of Artemi Panarin, who will be a free agent after the season, has been a hot-button topic in Columbus but the fourth-year forward helped eased the present by halting a 12-game goal drought with a three-point night at Detroit. Although he was struggling to find the net, Panarin has collected 10 assists over the past nine games after setting up a pair of goals by Pierre-Luc Dubois in Monday’s victory. Dubois, who also had a three-point game Monday, has 12 goals and 22 points after recording 20 and 28 as a rookie last season.

• Blue Jackets F Cam Atkinson has points in eight straight games, although his seven-game goal streak was halted Monday.

• Wild D Matt Dumba has a seven-game point streak, tying a franchise record for a blue-liner.

• Columbus G Sergei Bobrovsky is 8-2-1 with a 1.78 goals-against average versus Minnesota.