ESPN NHL

To remain in playoff contention, the Minnesota Wild will likely need to continue their success on the road.

The Wild play eight of their next 11 games away from home, beginning with Thursday night's matchup against the Los Angeles Kings.

Minnesota (32-22-6) is 10-4-1 in its last 15 road games and coming off a successful homestand that culminated with Tuesday's 4-1 victory over Edmonton.

The Wild scored three times in the third period to beat the Oilers for the 15th straight time in St. Paul, where they had gone 2-0-1 after losing at Chicago on Feb. 16.

"We weren't our best for the first two periods," center Kyle Brodziak said. "There were a lot of execution things we weren't happy with. We were turning the puck over a lot. We knew, just talking it over with everyone, we had another level to get to."

Minnesota has split two games since losing Mikko Koivu to a broken left index finger. While there's no timetable for his return, he's expected back before the end of the regular season. The Wild's captain has 15 goals and a team-best 34 assists in 58 games.

Brodziak has a chance to make up for his absence as he has four goals and 11 assists in his last 16 games

"To lose a guy like that, everyone's got to step up their game that much more," said Brodziak, who has no points in 15 career matchups with Los Angeles. "It's a good opportunity. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

The Wild might have a difficult challenge against a Kings team set to play at home for the first time this month. Los Angeles (33-23-4) finished 6-1-3 on its extended swing, which began with a 1-0 shootout loss to Minnesota on Feb. 1.

"It's been a great road trip," coach Terry Murray said. "That's 15 points out of a possible 20. That's a nice road trip. It's important that we keep our focus on how that happened -- the hard work, the intensity, the concentration every game to bring it every day and do things right."

The Kings avoided a third straight loss Wednesday with a 3-2 win over Anaheim. Willie Mitchell's first goal since Oct. 28 snapped a 2-2 tie after Ryan Smyth and Anze Kopitar scored in the opening frame for Los Angeles, which moved into a tie with Minnesota, Nashville and Calgary for fifth in the crowded Western Conference.

Kopitar's goal was only his third in 26 games and 18th this season. He had a goal and an assist in a 3-2 shootout win in Minnesota on Oct. 25, but his two assists were not enough to help Los Angeles at Staples Center on Dec. 11 as the Wild prevailed 3-2 on Brett Burns' overtime goal.

Minnesota is 3-0-1 in its last four overall against the Kings and is searching for a series-high third straight win in Los Angeles. The Wild have taken each of the past two meetings there by one goal.

Minnesota also will try to take advantage of a struggling Kings power play. Los Angeles is 1 for 15 with the man advantage over the last seven games, while the Wild have killed off 13 consecutive penalties.