Wild Game Day number 74
Wild Record (44-23-6 94 pts)
Home Record (24-11-1)
Opponent: Vancouver Canucks (29-35-9 67 pts)
Road Record (11-22-3)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 1:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results:
11/25 Canucks 3 @ Wild 2
12/15 Canucks 2 @ Wild 6
2/15 Wild 5 @ Canucks 2
Last Result:
11/29 Wild 4 @ Canucks 5
2/4 Wild 6 @ Canucks 3
Another non playoff opponent for the Wild as the host Vancouver this afternoon. The Canucks ended their own six game losing streak on Tuesday with a 5-4 OT win in Chicago.
Vancouver chased Corey Crawford in the third period of that game, before allowing three Blackhawk goals that ultimately sent the game to OT.
There are no gimme games in the NHL, but bigger for the Wild is to establish some continuity to their game and get things back on track and playing Wild hockey.
Christian Folin will be back in the lineup today, which will bring a presence of size and strength to the Wild blueline. Gustav Olofsson has been returned to Iowa to make room for Folin on the roster.
There are nine games left for the Wild to get ready for the playoffs. The goaltending situation needs to be worked out over the next nine games. Darcy Kuemper needs to play and the team must have confidence in his play, and he himself needs to have the confidence that if he lets up a goal he can bounce back and make the big saves that give his team a chance to win.
Devan Dubnyk needs a rest, but also must get his game back on track, literally. Dunyk is at his very best when he is tracking the puck and moving in anticipation of the scoring chances.
This Wild team is absolutely good enough to win and go very far in the playoffs. It is up to them as to just how far that will be.
Today it is Vancouver, a team that is not competing for the playoffs, but a team that is proud and very capable of stealing the two points. No time for a Wild repeat performance of Thursday night.
It's always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
Let's Play Hockey!
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