wild gameday
9 P.M. at vancouver • ROGERS ARENA • FSN, 100.3 FM
Preview: The Wild arrives one day after the circus came to town. Ryan Kesler vehemently denied a report that he has asked to be traded, begging for it not to become a Roberto Luongo-like distraction. Kesler injured his hand in the Olympics and missed Wednesday's 1-0 victory over St. Louis, as the Canucks ended a seven-game losing streak. The Wild ended an 11-game winless streak (0-9-2) in Vancouver with a 3-1 win March 18, 2013.
Players to watch: Canucks G Eddie Lack is coming off his third shutout of the season and is 9-8-3 with a 2.11 GAA. F Daniel Sedin is two points from his 800th. He has no goals in 20 games in 2014. Former Canucks D Keith Ballard should play his first game at Vancouver since signing with the Wild last summer.
Numbers: The Wild is 1-4-1 in the second of back-to-backs.
Injuries: Wild C Mikko Koivu (ankle) and D Marco Scandella (knee) are questionable; F Jason Zucker (leg) is out. For the Canucks, Kesler (hand), D Christopher Tanev (thumb) and D Yannick Weber (upper body) are questionable; D Andrew Alberts (concussion) and F Mike Santorelli (shoulder) are out; D Kevin Bieksa (foot) is probable.MICHAEL RUSSO
