Wild Game Day number 10 Wild Record (4-3-2 10 pts) Home Record (2-1-1)
Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (5-3-2 6 pts) Road Record (2-1-2)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St.Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results: 10/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 4 11/23 Jets 1 @ Wild 3 2/7 Wild 4 @ Jets 2 2/28 Wild 6 @ Jets 5 3/19 Wild 4 @ Jets 5
Last result: 10/21 Wild 3 @ Jets 4
Tonight we have the second divisional battle of the season, between the Wild and the Jets. The Jets took the first game 4-3 in Winnipeg 10 days ago, and the Wild would love nothing more than to return the favor on their home ice this evening.
Winnipeg comes in on a four game regulation unbeaten streak (2-0-2) which includes two 2-1 OT losses in Pittsburgh and in Columbus, while the two wins are the aforementioned win over the Wild and Sunday's 7-1 drubbing of the Penguins at home.
Winnipeg coach, Paul Maurice, has his club playing solid hockey with very good goaltending coming from Connor Hellebuyck. After struggling to find the back of the net in their two OT road losses, it all came together for the Jets, Sunday night where they scored early and often, potting five first period goals, highlighted by a hattrick from Plymouth, MN native and former Gopher, Blake Wheeler.
For the Wild they too are playing their best hockey of the young season and are 3-1-0 since their last meeting with the Jets.
Nino Niederreiter will make his return to the Wild lineup tonight. Niederreiter has been skating with the team for the better part of the last week, and tonight is the time to give it a go in game. High ankle sprains are tricky injuries and have a way of lingering for quite a while. Nino will have his ankle taped up and is ready to go.
Alex Stalock will get his third start of the season for the Wild. Stalock has looked very good in his first two games posting a record of 1-0-1 with a 2.90 GAA and a solid .924 save percentage.
Projected Line combinations: Granlund Koivu Zucker Niederreiter Staal Kunin Foligno Eriksson Ek Stewart Ennis Cullen Winnik
Suter Spurgeon Reilly Brodin Quincey Dumba
Stalock Dubnyk
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
Follow me on twitter @dwallace17