Wild Game Day number 21 Wild Record (12-6-2 26 pts) Road Record (5-4-0)
Opponent: Chicago Black Hawks (7-8-5 19 pts) Home Record (4-3-3)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 5:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results: 10/12 Wild 5 @ Blackhawks 2 11/4 Blackhawks 2 @ Wild 0 12/17 Wild 1 @ Blackhawks 4 1/10 Wild 2 @ Blackhawks 1 2/10 Blackhawks 0 @ Wild 3
Last result: 10/11 Blackhawks 3 @ Wild 4
After last night's biting loss to the Sabres, the Wild get right back at it against their old nemesis in Chicago. Buffalo gave the Minnesota a taste of their own medicine, erasing a two goal deficit. It was former Wild winger Jason Pominville delivering the dagger with a well placed backhander with 1:30 left in the third period.
Tonight marks the first Wild Blackhawks matchup with new Chicago head coach, Jeremy Coliton, behind the bench. Coliton replaced the legend, Joel Quenneville, on November 6th. The Hawks five game losing streak as October turned to November, finally did in the three time Stanley Cup winning head coach.
The coaching change has not delivered immediate results as Chicago dropped the first three games of the Coliton era, but the last two have been much better with a 1-0 win over St. Louis, and a 2-1 shootout loss vs. the Kings on Friday night.
Chicago's defense has been a real problem all season but having allowed just one goal in the last two, there are signs that the Hawks as a team are committing more to their defensive responsibilities.
All Minnesota eyes will be on the Windy City as first the Wild and Hawks tangle at 5PM Central and just as that one is wrapping up, the Vikings and Bears will battle on the gridiron of Soldier Field for the NFC North Division lead.
Last night's Wild loss is the type that stings, given the fact that the Wild let a two goal lead get away, despite numerous chances that went awry. The best medicine of course is the quick turnaround and what better opponent than the bitter rival Blackhawks.
Throw the records out when the these division rivals get at it, as the Hawks may be a game below .500 and suffering through a 1-6-3 stretch after starting the season 6-2-2. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Corey Crawford are still donning the Hawks sweater, and their pride has never been in question. That leadership corps has a new challenge to bring the next generation of Blackhawks to greatness.
Alex Stalock will get the call for the Wild in goal and expect to see Joel Eriksson Ek back in the lineup following his one game trip to the pressbox to observe. Eriksson Ek is expected to deliver more offense, and Boudreau is pushing the buttons to get his young forward to become more active in the offensive zone. No one is questioning JEE's effort on the defensive side of the puck, but this kid needs to shoot more and think offense.
Here's to the Minnesota daily double in the Windy City tonight!!!
Wild projected lines: Zucker-Staal-Niederreiter Parise-Koivu-Granlund ErikssonEk-Coyle-Greenway Foligno-Fehr-Brown
Suter-Dumba Brodin-Spurgeon Seeler-Pateryn
Dubnyk Stalock
It's always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
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