Wild Game Day number 18 Wild Record (10-4-3 23 pts) Road Record (3-3-3)
Opponent: Boston Bruins (8-8-1 17 pts) Home Record (2-6-1)
Site: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Time: 6:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 10/28 Wild 4 @ Bruins 3 12/17 Bruins 3 @ Wild 2 (OT)
The Wild look to right the ship as they close out their 4 Game road trip tonight in Boston. Boston has not been at all a home ice advantage for the Bruins this year having won only 2 of their first 9 at TD Garden. They are in the midst of a 5 game home stand in which they are 1-2-0 so far and are coming off a 5-4 loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
The Wild are coming off 2 tough games of their own and are looking to rebound with a better effort to start the game. The Wild have yielded the fewest 3rd period goals of any team this season but their starts have put them in the hole of late.
The Bruins and Wild split both meetings last year with each winning by one goal margins in each other's buildings. The Wild loss was in overtime and both games had the Wild with a decided advantage in shots and opportunities. They will need to continue that trend tonight if they are to be successful.
Minnesota's power play came to life on Tuesday scoring twice and that trend needs to continue. They have been struggling on the PP, so getting those two goals should give them more confidence heading into tonight's game.
They need to shoot the puck more and create more chances off the shot. The Wild defenseman are very good at getting their shots through to the net. This is the formula they need to continue to execute.
For the Bruins David Krejci is off to a hot start with 8 goals and 20 points and Patrice Bergeron is right behind him netting 7 and tallying 17 points to date. Bergeron is one of the most complete players in the league and is a factor in all three zones. Look for Tuuka Rask to be in goal for the Bruins tonight. Rask, normally a leader in the save percentage category has slipped this season and currently is below a .900 save percentage at .890 to go along with his 5-7-1 record.
Marco Scandella is out tonight and will be placed on IR according to Mike Yeo he sustained a lower body injury on Tuesday in Pittsburgh and will be out for the next few games but the thought is the injury is not expected to keep him out long.
Erik Haula should be back in the lineup tonight and Ryan Carter, who is battling the flu, also should be able to go as well. Look for Devan Dubnyk to once again get the nod in goal as the Wild look to get back into the win column tonight.
Let's Play Hockey!