Wild Game Day number 14 Wild Record (8-3-2 18 pts)
Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (8-5-2 18 pts)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 11/17 Jets 3 @ Wild 4 (OT) 12/27 Jets 4 @ Wild 3 (OT) 12/29 Wild 3 @ Jets 2 2/10 Wild 1 @ Jets 2 (OT) 4/6 Jets 2 @ Wild 0
Last Result: 10/25 Wild 4 @ Jets 5
The last time these two met, a little over 2 weeks ago in Winnipeg, the Jets jumped out to a 5 to 1 lead before the Wild came back to make it close eventually losing 5 to 4. The Jets have gone 3-2-1 since then and are coming off a loss at home to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday night where they were shutout by the score of 3 to nothing.
The Wild will once again be without Zach Parise, and Mike Yeo has confirmed that he will miss all of the upcoming 4 game road trip as well. Marco Scandella will miss the game tonight as well for personal reasons. Nate Prosser will return to the lineup in Scandella's absence. The Wild have recalled Kurtis Gabriel and look for him to make his NHL debut tonight.
Gabriel, the Wild 3rd round draft pick in 2013 #81 overall, has not registered a point thus far in Iowa through 9 games, but has registered 31 minutes in penalties. It is clear he is up for this matchup to deal with the big bodies of the Jets, at 6'4" and 220 lbs he offers the Wild a dimension that they are sorely missing. He will skate on the fourth line with Ryan Carter and Chris Porter.
Tonight's game with the Jets is just the next installment of this border war. These two teams have built up quite a rivalry not only on the ice but more importantly in the standings. There is no love loss between these two and tonight at the X should be a very spirited contest from the opening face-off to the final buzzer. The Wild must be careful not to get caught up in retaliation as the Jets will use their size to intimidate whenever possible.
Every 2 points in the division are meaningful, but as the Wild embark on a 4 game road trip following this game, getting these 2 points are that much more critical.
Look for Devan Dubnyk to once again get the start in the Wild net, following his best performance of the young season Saturday's 31 save, 1-0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Let's Play Hockey!