Wild gameday

Last update: April 10, 2008 - 9:47 PM

The skinny: Joe Sakic's eighth career playoff overtime winner, an NHL record, in Game 1 put the Wild behind the eight-ball and snatched home-ice advantage. Teams that have won the first game of a best-of-seven series went on to win the series 355 of 516 times (68.8 percent). Wild players were calling tonight's game a "must-win."

Must step up: Marian Gaborik, who had one shot Wednesday.

Must be shut down: Sakic, whose total of 22 regular-season points at Xcel Energy Center is tied with Calgary's Jarome Iginla for most by any visitor.

By the numbers: The Wild's 3-8 (.272) home playoff record is the second-worst in NHL history behind Atlanta (0-2).

Surprise, surprise: One game after Wes Walz made the crowd roar by doing the traditional "Let's Play Hockey" chant, injured defenseman Kurtis Foster will grab the mike tonight.

Quotable: "We have to concentrate. Why? Very simple. You look at the talent that they have and if you do not concentrate, they will get a good scoring chance. Matter of fact, they had three or four in two periods [Wednesday] and they had two goals." -- Wild coach Jacques Lemaire.

Injuries: Wild D Kurtis Foster (broken femur), D Nick Schultz (appendectomy) and RW Mark Parrish (concussion) are out. D Martin Skoula (sore leg) is possible. Avalanche D Brett Clark (shoulder), RW Scott Parker (ankle) and RW Marek Svatos (knee) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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