Wild Game Day number 14 Wild Record (7-5-1 15 pts) Road Record (3-4-1)
Opponent: Ottawa Senators (9-5-0 18 pts) Home Record (6-2-0)
Site: Canadian Tire Centre, Kanata, Ontario
Time: 4:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 3/15 Wild 2 @ Senators 3 (OT) 3/31 Senators 3 @ Wild 2
It is a quick turnaround for the Wild tonight following their 3-2 loss in Philadelphia last night, as they head north of the border to take on the Senators tonight in Kanata. Ottawa has been a house of horrors for the Wild as they have only won twice in eight tries versus the Senators in Canada. Ottawa, overall has had Minnesota's number, the Wild having won just four times in the seventeen previous meetings (4-9-4) and only twice in the last twelve.
Ottawa comes into tonight's contest with the Wild having won two in a row and five of their last seven, while giving up just eight goals against in those seven games. Ottawa coach Guy Boucher employs a very sound defensive structure and it has not taken long for his team to get on board.
The Senators can score goals too and of course are led by one of the most dynamic offensive talents in the league in captain Erik Karlsson. Karlsson is a threat from anywhere on the ice and has the ability to make everyone else a threat as well. Karlsson has some very talented forwards to work with as well with Bobby Ryan, Kyle Turris, Mike Hoffman, and former Ranger Derick Brassard. Mark Stone and Zach Smith have gotten off to slow starts but they are more than capable of putting the puck in the net as we have seen the last few seasons.
It will be a tough night for the Wild if they do not start to generate more scoring chances by shooting the puck. They came on strong last night in the third period but it turned out to be a little too late. Ottawa will not give the Wild the same quality looks they got last night in Philly, so they will have to be much better tonight. The Wild will need to take advantage of everything that Ottawa gives them, because there won't be a lot of chances.
Again the Wild look to develop consistency from game to game, and clearly to a man they know they let one slip away last night. Now let's see what they do on the second night of a back to back of their own tonight.
Bruce Boudreau was not at all happy with the result last night and he made it very clear that he expects a better effort night in and night out. He was not happy with the play of Matt Dumba, particularly on the second Flyer goal. Dumba skated wildly into the Flyers zone calling for the puck from Mikko Koivu, which of course resulted in a turnover and ultimately in the Wild net. Boudreau stated that he will have to sit down and talk with him to get him to understand and make the necessary adjustments.
Darcy Kuemper will get the call in net for the Wild, seeing his first game action since letting up five goals in Brooklyn back on October 23rd. You will recall Boudreau did not mince words when it came to his opinion of Kuemper's play that night, simply stating "he has to be better"
Wild keys to the game tonight: Get more shots on net with traffic Limit Karlsson's options Strong game in front of Kuemper Play with urgency for 60 minutes
Let's Go Crazy!
Let's Go Wild!
Let's Play Hockey!