Wild to open season at home

Last update: July 17, 2008 - 10:51 PM

The Wild will open the 2008-09 season at home Oct. 11 against Manny Fernandez and the Boston Bruins, then will hit the road for a Southeast Division jaunt, where it will visit Atlanta (Oct. 14), Florida (Oct. 16) and the new-look Tampa Bay Lightning (Oct. 18). Here are a few other schedule highlights:

• Oct. 30, vs. Montreal: Round 3 of the Battle of the Koivu Bros. Round 1 three seasons ago went to Mikko when he stripped his brother in overtime to set up Kurtis Foster's winner; Round 2 two seasons ago went to Saku.

• Nov. 6 and 8 at Colorado, Vancouver: On the 6th, Andrew Brunette will visit Colorado for the first time since returning to Minnesota; on the 8th, Pavol Demitra will play host to the Wild for the first time in Vancouver.

• Nov. 18 at Pittsburgh: Pascal Dupuis might play the Wild for the first time since being traded two seasons ago. Oh, and the Wild will try to check Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

• Nov. 24 vs. Washington: Minnesota has somehow kept Alex Ovechkin to one assist in two games. Can the Wild shut the reigning MVP down three times?

• March 20 at New Jersey: Jam-packed in the middle of a daunting stretch during which the Wild plays 14 out of 17 games on the road between Feb. 27 and March 29, the Wild will visit Brian Rolston and the Devils.

MICHAEL RUSSO