wild gameday
7 P.M. VS. VANCOUVER • XCEL ENergy Center
FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: After starting 8-2-2, the Canucks are 3-4-4 in their past 11, winless in three and 1-3-2 in their past six. That malaise has helped the Wild back into the Northwest Division race. This is the third meeting with Vancouver holding a 2-0 lead. The Canucks have been in Minnesota since an overtime loss at Columbus on Thursday.
Players to watch: F Zack Kassian has no goals in the past 16 games after starting the season with five in his first seven. LW Alex Burrows has one goal in his past 10 games. F David Booth hasn't scored in eight games since returning from a groin injury. F Daniel Sedin has one goal in the past seven games. He has 53 points in 66 games against the Wild, which ranks third all-time. Brother, Henrik Sedin, has 55 points in 70 games vs. the Wild (second all-time). G Matt Hackett may start for the Wild. He went 3-6 in 12 games last year with a 2.38 goals against average and .922 save percentage. C Mikko Koivu has 25 points in 42 career games against the Canucks.
Numbers: The Canucks are 0 for their past 16 on the power play and rank 20th at 15.7 percent. … The Wild is 2-2 in the second of back-to-backs.
Injuries: Wild G Josh Harding (symptoms related to multiple sclerosis) and G Darcy Kuemper (groin) are out. Canucks C Ryan Kesler (broken foot) is out. D Keith Ballard (charleyhorse), F Tom Sestito (hip) and D Kevin Bieksa (groin) are questionable.
MICHAEL RUSSO
