Wild Game Day number 29 Wild Record (15-7-6 36 pts) Road Record (10-3-1)
Opponent: Vancouver Canucks (11-11-8 30 pts) Road Record (6-6-5)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, Minnesota
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 2/1 Wild 4 @ Canucks 2 2/9 Canucks 3 @ Wild 5 2/16 Wild 2 @ Canucks 3
Last Result: 11/25 Canucks 3 @ Wild 2
The Wild claimed Jarret Stoll off waivers from the NY Rangers today. Stoll is not expected to be in the lineup this evening when the Wild host the Canucks. Stoll is a veteran right handed center that brings playoff experience having won 2 Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings. He is a veteran, character guy that should help both on and off the ice.
The Canucks come into the game off a 4-0 shutout loss to the Blackhawks on Sunday night. They have been an up and down team all season winning a couple good games then dropping some clunkers like Sunday in Chicago. Last year they were a playoff team but this season the team has looked very ordinary on most nights.
Jake Virtanen one of the Canucks bright spots through the early season has been loaned to the Team Canada for the upcoming World Junior Tournament so he will not be in the lineup for Vancouver tonight. Ryan Miller, who brings a 9-10-5 record into tonight's game along with a 2.53 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
The Wild are riding a nice little streak in December recording points in 6 straight and have allowed only 5 goals in those 6 contests. The offense is still sputtering along but the goaltending has been solid and and the overall team defense outstanding. They play 6 out of their next 7 at the X and hope to find some answers to the offensive issues on home ice.
Last time the Canucks came to town was the night before Thanksgiving and the Wild came out strong but let Vancouver hang around as they got a last minute goal in the first to tie the game, a power play goal in the second and an insurance marker early in the third before the Wild could muster a comeback effort that ultimately fell a goal short.
Tonight the Wild need to bring the intensity level from the outset and use the home ice to their advantage. The crowd is a huge factor for the Wild and keeping them in the game is critical in establishing that edge.
Darcy Kuemper will again be in between the pipes for the Wild and has looked very good filling in for Devan Dubnyk. Kuemper has a 1.13 GAA and .947 save percentage in the 3 plus games he has played since Dubnyk left the game against the Avalanche on December 5th. It's time to give him some goal support as the Wild have managed just 7 goals of their own over that same time frame.
Let's Play Hockey!