Wild gameday

Last update: November 15, 2007 - 10:38 PM

Preview: The Wild and Canucks meet for the first time this season; the Wild won last season's series 5-1-2. Tonight's game is the last in a four-game road trip for Minnesota, which returns home to play host to Colorado on Sunday. The Wild, which beat Edmonton 4-2 on Thursday, is 2-0-1 in the second half of back-to-backs this season. Vancouver, 3-0-1 in its past four, is 2-6-1 at home.

Players to watch: Last season, LW Brian Rolston led the Wild with five goals and nine points against the Canucks. C Mikko Koivu added seven points, and RW Marian Gaborik had six. Gaborik has 13 goals and 23 points in 27 career games vs. the Canucks. Rolston has 22 points in 33 games. G Josh Harding, who never has faced Vancouver, is expected to start. He's 0-3-1 in his past four starts with a 3.44 goals-against average and .879 save percentage. LW Markus Naslund leads the Canucks in scoring vs. Minnesota with 26 points in 34 games. The Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, have 39 combined points.

Numbers: Expected Vancouver starter Roberto Luongo was 3-3-2 against the Wild last season with a 2.90 GAA. He's 4-7-3 all-time vs. the Wild with a 2.98 GAA and .895 save percentage.

Injuries: Canucks LW Jeff Cowan (hip flexor) is day-to-day. D Kevin Bieksa (calf), D Lukas Krajicek (foot) and D Sami Salo (broken nose) are out. Wild LW Pavol Demitra (groin) and C Wes Walz (leave of absence) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

Game recap

Star Tribune's three stars

1. Mark Parrish, Wild: Scored two power-play goals on six shots (four of his six goals this season are on the power play).

2. Mikko Koivu, Wild: Notched his second career three-assist game and won 18 of 24 faceoffs.

3. Petteri Nummelin, Wild: Playing wing, the defenseman had his first two points of the season --both assists -- to spark the power play.

By the numbers

7 of Kurtis Foster's 14 career goals have come on the power play.

218 minute, 18 second home shutout streak by Niklas Backstrom vs. the Oilers ends.

3 power-play goals in the first period ties team record for PPG's in a period.

Michael Russo

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