Gameday: Wild vs. Vancouver

Last update: February 19, 2008 - 12:03 AM

Preview: The Canucks will have extra motivation: their fathers will be at the X tonight. The Wild, 11-4-2 in its past 17, has won its past four games via overtime (goals by Brent Burns and Marian Gaborik) or shootout (deciding goals by Burns and Mikko Koivu), the only time in franchise history that has happened. The Wild has won the past three of five meetings with the Canucks, including a 5-4 shootout victory Thursday in Vancouver.

Players to watch: Gaborik, five points from his career high of 67, has 11 goals and 23 points in his past 18 games and 16 goals and 27 points in 32 career games vs. Vancouver. LW Brian Rolston, who returned to practice Monday after missing Sunday's game because of an illness, has nine goals in his past 11 games. C Pavol Demitra has 46 points in 39 games vs. the Canucks. ... LW Markus Naslund has 30 points in 39 games vs. the Wild, while the Sedin twins (Daniel and Henrik) have 49 combined points vs. the Wild. W Alex Burrows, who has had a string of run-ins with Wild players, has three goals in his past five games.

Numbers: The Wild has won 17 consecutive games in which Gaborik has scored a goal. ... The Wild is an NHL-best 28-3-1 when scoring first and 25-0-1 when leading after two periods. ... The Wild has won 18 one-goal games, most in the West.

Injuries: Wild C Eric Belanger (sore back) was given the day off Monday. LW Derek Boogaard (back) is out. ... Canucks LW Taylor Pyatt (upper body), D Kevin Bieksa (calf), LW Brendan Morrison (wrist), D Lukas Krajicek (shoulder) and D Aaron Miller (foot) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO