12/12 GDT Wild vs Nucks

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Minnesota Wild (15-13-3: 33 points, 13th in Western Conference, 5th in Northwest Division) at Vancouver Canucks (17-14-0: 34 points, T-10th in Western Conference, T-3rd in Northwest Division)

For how hard the Minnesota Wild had to work to for its fourth win ever at the Pengrowth Saddledome last night, the team should get a week off. In fact, when Martin Havlat buried the overtime game-winner, plans should have immediately been made for a ticker tape parade through downtown St. Paul as the players hoisted a cowboy saddle. Alas, we are in mid-December and despite seven wins in eight games, the Wild is still looking up at a lot of teams. One of those teams is the Vancouver Canucks, who sit just one point ahead of Minnesota in the standings.

The Wild moved to 3-1-0 on this five-game road trip after a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over the Flames last night. Havlat, who picked up the game-winner, also assisted on James Sheppard’s third period tying goal. Niklas Backstrom gave up just one goal, putting his goals against average under 1.00 in his three games started on this trip.

The Canucks have won three of their last five thanks to a 4-2 home win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night. Daniel Sedin scored Vancouver’s first three goals, and Mason Raymond added one. Roberto Luongo stopped 22 shots as the Canucks opened up a monstrous eight-game homestand.

Broadcast Information

Wild at Canucks will be broadcast locally on Fox Sports North at 9:00 PM. The game can be heard on WCCO Radio 830 AM, or online at Wild.com.

Click here to receive Minnesota Wild broadcast alerts/game day previews each Wild Game day

If you would like to receive broadcast alerts (time and channel) by cell phone, simply text TV to 83281

If You’re Going

Need some fresh new targets for your dartboard? Large glossy photos of Alexandre Burrows, Roberto Luongo and Ryan Kesler from the 2009-2010 Vancouver Canucks Team Yearbook is now on sale and available for purchase at tonight’s game.

Meet The Nucks

The Canucks were plagued by injuries early in the season, but now their Achilles heal has been lack of consistency. Vancouver can look dominant in a win over Atlanta, less than a week after getting thumped by the last place team in the NHL, Carolina. The Canucks haven’t been able to string more than two wins together since a three-game streak at the beginning of November.

As for the personalities on the Canucks, Wild fans are all too familiar. They are still chock full of agitators like Burrows, Kesler and Kevin Bieksa, and they still have a goaltender who can win games by himself.

Who’s Hot?

Every single Wild player played a strong to very strong game last night, which was the reason for a season-high 46 shots on goal and a stirring victory. The player who stood out the most was Havlat. Really, #14 has stood out this whole trip, but as has been the case all season, he’s been the victim of snakebites around the goal crease.

Still, the effort has been there, and with that comes more significant ice time. Of course, with that comes more scoring chances and Havlat generated plenty of those before converting in overtime.

Tonight’s Storyline

The last time the Wild closed out a five-game road trip was in Vancouver. The Wild was 0-4 going in, and 0-5 coming out. The only good thing about the trip was that it was over. Tonight, the Wild closes out its last five-gamer of the season, and this one has been quite a bit different. With a win tonight, the Wild could finish up the trip with an outstanding 4-1 record, and three of those wins would be against Division opponents.

Keep An Eye On

This road trip might be a coming out party for James Sheppard. He’s scored two goals in the four games, the first as a wing and last night’s as a center. Sheppard has earned more ice time, as well as the confidence of his head coach. It couldn’t come at a better time after Owen Nolan went down with a lower body injury last night. Without Nolan’s grit and physical presence in the lineup, a lot of that responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Shep.

Probable Wild Line Combos

If Nolan can’t go tonight, Nathan Smith will likely re-enter the lineup and Sheppard will go back to the wing:

Brunette-Koivu-Miettinen
Sheppard-Belanger-Kobasew
Latendresse-Brodziak-Clutterbuck
Havlat-Smith-Boogaard

Probable Defensive Pairings

After a sterling defensive performance last night, it would be odd if Richards were to shake things up on the back end:

Zanon-Zidlicky
Schultz-Johnsson
Hnidy-Sifers

Between The Pipes

Despite Backstrom’s brilliance, it would seem likely that Josh Harding gets the start with tonight being the second of back-to-backs.

View From The Press Box

Unless he returns to the lineup as a forward, John Scott is the likely scratch tonight.

The Infirmary

There is no word from Vancouver yet, so we’ll have to wait and see on Nolan’s status, but it’s probably something that’s not worth rushing him back from. Andrew Ebbett, Petr Sykora, Brent Burns and Pierre-Marc Bouchard remain out with concussions.

Richards’ Quote of the Day

“We got contributions from everyone. It was a complete team effort.”

-- Todd Richards on his team’s performance in Calgary

Honorary State of Hockey Residents

D Willie Mitchell was a former fan favorite in his four-plus seasons with the Wild. Injured RW Pavol Demitra spent two seasons in a Wild uniform. LW Mason Raymond spent two seasons with the UMD Bulldogs.

Worthless Stat

The Wild’s 46 shots on goal was one shy of the club record of 47 shots in a road game, established in Colorado on December 21, 2002.

Lets get greedy in this mother fucker!!!!!! POINTS GALORE!!!!

WILD WIN IT 3-2

Hey Ceh, go ahead and show this to some of the other Nuck fans on CDC. I think our establishment over here needs some Nuck trolls. Would be a nice holiday treat to us all.

Couldn't have picked a better image to represent the Canucks. If we play the way we did last night we can win this game.

4-3Wild

and today i'm taking my 17month old son skating we'll both be wearing wild jerseys in hostile territory and then watch the game on Hockey Rape in Canada.

LMAO love the pic.. too bad you couldnt get one of little lulu crying after the playoffs last year. I'm gonna chug the gallon of kool-aid today and predict a 5-2 Wild win(as on the other boards)

Wild Goals: Havlat, Lats, Mittens, BOOGEY(against the nucks is too good not to hope for), and Nolan.

Nuckers Goals: Bopsy Twin #2(Danielle) and Salo.

I got the TRUE Wild representation right here bitches



"Jovo didnt get suspended long enough, Ohlund didnt get suspended long enough, the NHL hates the Wild etc...etc...etc..."

Sorry ninja, I don't post on CDC anymore.

I haven't been this excited for a wild game in awhile.

Is this game on FSN HD or do I need to watch the center ice feed somehow?

Apparently FSN is not HD tonight, you'll need to get the HNIC feed for HD.

oh man, so two options to watch it eh? HNIC or FSN.

Choices. choices.

I get to see it on HNIC hope we win

Mother fucker 0-1. Harding gave him the entire fucking top corner.

I still haven't seen the goal... I couldn't get the online feed to work until just a moment ago...

Damnit boogie! Stupid move!

Johnsson.... Johnsson... Johnsson... ugh!

2-0 Nucks.

2-0 3 wild around him and he still gets the shot off sloppy play

Harding goes down way too early, this could be ugly.

forthewild wrote:

Harding goes down way too early, this could be ugly.

He had to be down to have his leg on the post and be ready for the wrap around chance on that last one.

not just that, but there is plenty of times when the puck was in front of the net he just goes down too fast, wasn't talking about the pp goal tho.

Have only seen this short bit, so don't know what he was doing before. I'll take your word for it.

If that is true, and with Backstrom going down early all the time as well... are they both being coached to do so?

That's been one of my longest standing criticisms of Backstrom as well.

Lou with a great save on Havlat's breakaway... great chance though!

GREAT PLAY by Havlat! Patience to let the play open up!

Hnidy with the goal!

Fuck Havlat had a golden chance

Havlat was amazing there SHANE FUCKING HNIDY

Havlat's having a hell of a period.

Boogaard is killing us with his horrid play!

That goal is totally because Boogaard is fucking worthless!

Ugh... another penalty kill...