Good afternoon from San Jose, where I am sitting out on a patio in brilliant weather staring off into the brilliant green hills in the distance.

It's a heckuva day out here in Northern California.

I've got to remain impartial, but selfishly, I may have to start rooting for the Wild to get that seventh or eighth seed if it'll mean a first-round matchup and return trip to this great city for me.

And it is all about me.

Cowboy Owen Nolan, who was sure he broke a bone in his hand the other night when be blocked a Kyle Cumiskey shot with 3 1/2 minutes left, will play tonight. He said it feels much better -- looks a little ugly -- and it's just a bone bruise. What was amazing about Nolan's play -- instead of sprinting to trainer Don Fuller with tears in his eyes like I would have done, Nolan stayed out the rest of the shift trying to block shots and help goalie Josh Harding preserve the 1-0 shutout.

It says everything you need to know about the guy and why you can bet some playoff contenders will be calling GM Chuck Fletcher to see his status near the trade deadline. But if the Wild's still in contention, I'm starting to doubt that Fletcher would just trade Nolan away for a mid-round pick or something. The reason being is that warrior mentality that makes Nolan such a playoff performer (just look at his series for Calgary a few years ago) would be exactly the type of thing the Wild would need, too.

So only way I think Nolan gets moved is if the playoffs at the deadline look out of the question for the Wild or another team offers Fletcher true value that makes it tough for Fletcher to say no.

Harding will start tonight despite his bum hip. Coach Todd Richards says he's "fine" and looked "strong" in the morning skate. Niklas Backstrom will not be at the arena, but not because of his back. Richards says his back is feeling better, but now, he's sick.

Richards plans to go with the same lineup tonight, meaning John Scott and Derek Boogaard won't play.

If you remember, the last time the Wild was in San Jose back in October, it actually played one of it's best road games of the season -- jumping out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Andrew Brunette and Buster, aka Nolan. But suddenly, the Sharks stormed back with three goals in the third, started by Patrick Marleau and capped by a ridiculous Dany Heatley snipe with little time and space.

It was proof yet again that it doesn't take much for the Marleau-Heatley-Jumbo Joe Thornton trio to turn a game around. The Wild won't have the last change tonight, meaning there will be times Todd McLellan will get a matchup he's looking for. Richards said it's essential the Wild players always recognize when the three stars are on the ice and limit the risks and the penalties.

Heatley, Thornton and Marleau have combined for 78 of San Jose's 182 goals, or 42.9 percent.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Because of the 9:30 p.m. start, the game story won't be in many of the editions tonight and quite frankly, the final gamer may be a running story filed at the gun -- as we like to say in the biz. So check out the blog after tonight's game for final details and some quotes, and then Monday's paper for a follow.

The Wild will take tomorrow as a travel day only to Dallas, so after tonight's blog, there won't be a fresh blog until after Monday's practice in Dallas -- barring actual news Sunday.