Wild Game Day number 33 Wild Record (18-9-6 42 pts) Home Record (13-4-1)
Opponent: Pittsburgh Penguins (16-14-3 35 pts) Road Record (7-7-1)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, Minnesota
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 11/4 Penguins 4 @ Wild 1 1/13 Wild 2 @ Penguins 7
Last result: 11/17 Wild 3 @ Penguins 4
Hope everyone had a relaxing and festive 3 day Christmas Break with family and friends. Tonight the NHL lights come back on in full swing with 9 games on the schedule. The Penguins come town to face the Wild in a bit of disarray. They made a coaching change relieving Mike Johnston of his duties on December 13, replacing him with their with Mike Sullivan. Sullivan had been coaching the baby Pens in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL. Sullivan has previous NHL head coaching experience with the Boston Bruins from 2003-06 (70-56-15-23 record, one playoff appearance)
The Penguins had struggled to score goals prior to the coaching change. Since the change their fortunes didn't change much as they dropped their first 4 games under Sullivan, while scoring just 4 goals in those games. They are, however, coming off a big home win 5-2 over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. Ironically the offensive outburst came with Sidney Crosby out of the lineup with a lower body injury.
The last time these teams met just over a month ago in Pittsburgh, the Penguins held on for a 4-3 victory, super charged by a four point effort from Evgeni Malkin. The game was a very evenly played, with both teams netting 2 powerplay goals on 6 opportunities. The difference in that game was a phantom high stick penalty to Chris Porter, which led to Malkin's powerplay goal. That goal turned a one goal game into a 3-1 game and the momentum shifted in Pittsburgh' s favor. The Wild did rally but the comeback fell short as they could not draw back to even before the final buzzer.
Devan Dubnyk will be in goal for the Wild tonight, Ryan Carter will not play due to a lower body injury. For the Penguins, Marc Andre Fleury is out with a concussion, Matthew Murray is expected to make the start in net. Murray has played well this season in the AHL with a 12-4-0 record and a 1.84 GAA to go along with a .938 save percentage. In 2 games so far with the big club he is 1-1-0 , 2.02 GAA, .920 save percentage. Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang will return to the Penguins lineup tonight.
Expect a spirited effort from both teams as they return from the three day break. The Wild once again catch a team that is in a bit of a funk, which has been a theme of late. The Wild have to be careful they don't get lulled into the Penguins game, they must dictate the tempo of the game and bring a 60 minute effort. Minnesota has been playing much more Wild like games in December and tonight if they expect to earn the 2 points they will need to bring their game. The Penguins have a ton of top end talent and they are just waiting to explode. The key for the Wild will be to stay out of the box and to limit the Penguins attack to one shot and outs. The Wild overall team defense is very strong and will be put to the test against Malkin, Crosby, Kessel, Letang and company tonight.
Let's Play Hockey!