The defending Stanley Cup champs are in town to play the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night.
Minnesota’s playoff fate is in limbo thanks to a rough April, featuring too many home losses — five in a row, as a matter of fact. A loss to the Kings would equal the longest home losing streak in franchise history.
With just three games remaining, the Wild is tied with Columbus for seventh in the Western Conference. Detroit is just one point behind after beating Phoenix Monday night.
After Sunday’s disappointing home loss to Calgary, head coach Mike Yeo said his team needs to relish the pressure that April hockey brings.
On Monday the Wild reassigned rookie forwards Mikael Granlund and Jazon Zucker to Houston, and re-called veteran forwards Stephane Veillieux and Jake Dowell.
They also brought goalie Josh Harding back and sent Darcy Kuemper back to Houston.
Granlund had just one goal and one assist in his last 13 games. Zucker hasn’t tallied a point in nine games.
