A Wild Night
The Vancouver Canucks will finally play their division rivals Minnesota Wild in their first look at what $196 million buys in one summer. Unfortunately for the Wild, so far the answer is a middling 4-4-1 record.
Matchup: Vancouver Canucks (5 – 2 – 2) v Minnesota Wild (4 – 4– 1)
Venue: Xcel Energy Center
Time: 5:00 pm
TV/Radio: Sportsnet, Team 1040
Game Notes
The Wild do have a 4-1 home record and that, combined with the Canucks‘ historic struggles in Minnesota, should be sufficient cause for concern. Perhaps home-state boy Jordan Schroeder can help the Canucks find the right tonic to play successful hockey in Minnesota.
What to Watch: Minnesota
The Wild made a move for veteran Rangers forward Mike Rupp earlier this week, sending Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri to New York.
It hasn’t been quite the start the Wild were hoping for after almost singlehandedly starting the lockout (see also: Jacobs, Jeremy) with Kyle Brodziak off to a horrible start and Dany Heatley shuffled throughout the line-up due to his ineffectiveness.
I’m hardly shedding a tear honestly. Minnesota is 1-3-1 against playoff teams from last season and 3-1-0 against others.
Minnesota is 1-3-1 against playoff teams – (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Line-up
- Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Charlie Coyle
- Pierre-March Bouchard-Matt Cullen-Dany Heatley
- Torrey Mitchell-Kyle Brodziak-Cal Clutterbuck
- Mikael Granlund-Zenon Konopka-Devon Setoguchi
- Ryan Suter-Jonas Brodin
- Tom Gilbert-Clayton Stoner
- Marco Scandelia-Justin Falk
- Niklas Backstrom
What to Watch: Vancouver
Roberto Luongo‘s record in Minnesota is not good. 3-9-1, 3.56 GAA, .873 save pct. He’s been pulled three times and hasn’t played in the building since 2010. It would make sense then for Cory Schneider to claw his way back into the line-up but Alain Vigneault isn’t tipping his hand just yet. I assume Schneider’s agent has an opinion however.
Captain Henrik Sedin is just three points shy of passing Markus Naslund to become the franchise’s all-time points leader. Daniel Sedin is 31 points behind his twin brother, but has scored 110 more goals.
Former team Captain Markus Naslund and the Sedins all hail from Ornskoldsvik, Sweden in case you live under a rock.
The Canucks, meanwhile, are facing the harsh reality of the single life on the road.
Line-up
- Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Zack Kassian
- Mason Raymond – Jordan Schroeder – Alex Burrows
- Chris Higgins – Maxim Lapierre – Jannik Hansen
- Dale Weise – Manny Malhotra – Aaron Volpatti
- Dan Hamhuis – Kevin Bieksa
- Jason Garrison – Alex Edler
- Keith Ballard – Chris Tanev
- Roberto Luongo / Cory Schneider
Injuries
The Canucks are still without the ambiguously Americam duo of Ryan Kesler and David Booth. Kesler began practicing with the team Sunday, there is no timetable for his return to the lineup, though.
The Wild have Jared Spurgeon out with a lower-body injury suffered against Nashville earlier last week.
Prediction
I just don’t have a good feeling about this one. 3-2 Wild in a slogging heartbreaker.
Game Day Tweets
girl at the grocery store dropped her windex and now the right side of my face is streak-free
— Richard Hodges (@prfctsoundforvr) February 7, 2013
The #Canucks take on the #Wild tonight in #NHL action. Matchup/Stats Insight nwsb.co/-cu9f + #NWSB Preview nwsb.co/82yx2
— Q Smith (@NWSBQ) February 7, 2013
Jordan Schroeder’s family has purchased a suite at EEC for #canucks game so AV says he better play the kid to make it worth their while.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 6, 2013
Win 4 Canucks tix for this Sat. and $100 to BP. RT #TEAM1040Tickets & #BPVancouver to @team1040 to enter! Winner announced tomorrow morning
— TEAM Radio (@TEAM1040) February 7, 2013
Cory Schneider off to a slow start (2-2-0, 3.13 goals against average, .897 save percentage) will start Thursday. #Canucks #CanucksG10
— Q Smith (@NWSBQ) February 7, 2013
Want to Skate with the #Canucks in @rogersarena next week? v.canucks.com/UeSyBM
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 7, 2013
#Vancouver won 4 of 6 meetings last season – with one of the victories in Minnesota – and have claimed 7 of the last 9 #Canucks #CanucksG10
— Q Smith (@NWSBQ) February 7, 2013
If Jordan Schroeder has done one thing this season, he’s proven he belongs in the @nhl. bit.ly/Xk8pLJ #Canucks
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 7, 2013
From the airport to the hotel, your #Canucks are in #Minnesota. v.canucks.com/WReC0C
— Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) February 7, 2013
Jannik Hansen. Kevin Bieksa. Roberto Luongo. Chris Tanev. #Canucks win. The Goods: bit.ly/11MSerp #CanucksG9
— Canucks Game (@canucksgame) February 5, 2013
Everyone is going to be shocked to find out Chris Higgins is starting in goal tomorrow.
— Mitch(@MitchEmDee) February 6, 2013
CLICK HERE CHECK OUT THE VANCOUVER CANUCKS CLUBHOUSE TODAY ON NWSB!
About Richard Hodges
