Wild Game Day number 7
Opponent: Anaheim Ducks (1-4-1)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
Time: 5:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 10/17 Wild 1 @ Ducks 2 12/5 Ducks 5 @ Wild 4 3/13 Ducks 2 @ Wild 1
Last Meeting: Sunday 10/18 Wild 1 @ Ducks 4
Tonight the Wild get a chance to avenge Sunday's 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Ducks in Anaheim. Both teams have played once since then with the Ducks dropping a 5-1 decision in Nashville to the Predators, while the Wild are coming off their 3-2 home win over the Blue Jackets.
The Ducks have struggled out of the gate scoring just 6 goals in their first 6 games, but 4 of those came at the hands of the Wild along with their lone victory of the young season. Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau has juggled his lines heading into tonight's rematch in St. Paul. The most notable change will see long time line mates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry starting the game on different lines. Look for Getzlaf to start the game centering Mike Santorelli and former Wild winger Chris Stewart, with Perry to be paired Patrick Maroon centered by Rickard Rakell.
Coach Mike Yeo has said that Devan Dubnyk will be in net tonight and look for Darcy Kuemper tomorrow in Winnipeg against the Jets. The Wild are now in the midst of 4 games in 6 nights after a very light schedule through the first few weeks of the season. The team has yet to really get it's game legs going with the couple extended breaks they have already experienced between games.
With lots of practice combined with just coming out of training camp, the Wild have struggled to get to the level they are looking for. The more active game schedule over the next few weeks will be a much better litmus test to see what this team is all about.
The Ducks have had the Wild's number of late with Minnesota having won just one of the last 11 meetings between them.
Look for the Wild to be prepared for a desperate opponent once again this evening. That seems like the theme every night for the Wild. They seem to be catching teams that are struggling and in need of a high energy turn around. That can work in their favor if they can start fast and keep their foot on the gas, legs moving, get pucks deep, finish checks, and establish territorial play, but also could be a formula for disaster if they allow the Ducks to hang around and dictate play.
The Wild have a 4-1-1, despite some erratic play at times in the first 6 games, but like every good team does, they have done what it takes and found ways to win. The leadership of Parise, Koivu, and Suter is evident and the team is committed to coach Yeo's system. Now let's see how they handle this stretch of the schedule, as we know every point is critical in the toughest division in all of sports.
Let's Play Hockey!