Wild Game Day number 53 Wild Record (35-12-5 75 pts) Home Record (17-6-0)
Opponent: Chicago Blackhawks (32-17-5 69 pts) Road Record (14-10-1)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)
Last Season Results: 10/30 Blackhawks 4 @ Wild 5 12/1 Wild 2 @ Blackhawks 1 2/21 Blackhawks 1 @ Wild 6 (TCF Bank Stadium) 3/20 Wild 3 @ Blackhawks 2 (SO) 3/29 Blackhawks 1 @Wild 4
Last result: 1/15 Wild 3 @ Blackhawks 2
The Wild return home to begin an eight game home-stand which will last the better part of the next three weeks. The Blackhawks come to town trailing the Wild by six points and having played two more games than have the Wild. Minnesota has taken the last eight regular season games from the Hawks including the only meeting this season 3-2 in Chicago on January 15th.
The Blackhawks always bring the best out of the Wild and tonight should be no different as the stakes have become much higher than in years past. For Chicago they can't afford to let lose sight of the Wild as the season enters the stretch run. For Minnesota the possibility of opening an eight point lead over Chicago and still having two games in hand looms large and could go a long way in helping the club secure the a top spot in the West,
Last night in Winnipeg the Wild got a tremendous effort from All-star goaltender Devan Dubnyk who turned away 38 of 40 Jets shots securing the 4-2 Minnesota victory. Jason Pominville had a big night with 2 goals and 2 assists, combining with linemates Nino Niederreiter (2 goals, 1 assist) and Charlie Coyle (3 assists) for 10 pts.
A good road win against a very determined and resilient Jets team. The Jets played a strong game from the outset but the Wild were able to persevere and find their way to victory. Aided by a leaky 2nd goal coming in the last minute of the first putting the Wild up 2-0 after one. Pominville netted his second of the night early on in the second and it looked as though the Wild might roll.
But it was not that kind of game. The Jest had their legs all game long and they kept coming getting two back before Dubnyk slammed the door, with a little help from his friends the posts and his outstanding D corps, especially Jared Spurgeon who knocked a loose puck from in the crease to protect the 1 goal Wild lead at the time.
The Wild will be playing their sixth back to back of the season with a three and two record in the second half of those previous five back to backs, including their win over the Hawks in January.
Bruce Boudreau worked his magic once again with his never ending line blender, putting Coyle, Niederreiter, and Pominville together. With Pominville getting his 9th and 10th goals of the season the Wild now have 10 players with double digit goals through 52 games.
Projected Lines: Always Subject to change 64 9 16 the only constant 11 12 53 22 3 29 7 56 44
20 46 6 24 5 4
35
It's Always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
Let's Play Hockey!
Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17