Gameday: Wild at Vancouver

Last update: October 16, 2009 - 8:50 PM

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Preview: After playing Friday night in Edmonton, this is the Wild's first back-to-back set this season. The Wild went 1-4-1 against the Canucks last season, going 1-2 at GM Place with the lone victory on a Marc-Andre Bergeron overtime winner. Vancouver has won two in a row after opening the season with three losses in a row.

Players to watch: Wild C Mikko Koivu scored four goals and an assist against Vancouver last season and has 16 points in 24 career games vs. the Canucks. LW Andrew Brunette has 47 points in 54 games against Vancouver, and RW Owen Nolan has 36 points in 57 games. Canucks C Henrik Sedin had one goal and nine points against the Wild last season and has 37 points in 50 games against the Wild. His 31 assists against Minnesota is the most by any opponent.

Numbers: Wild G Niklas Backstrom is 8-5-4 against the Canucks with a 2.24 goals against average and .922 save percentage. Canucks G Roberto Luongo is 9-11-5 against Minnesota with a 2.73 goals against average and .900 save percentage. ... Henrik Sedin has played 340 games in a row, third on the active consecutive games list in the NHL.

Injuries: Wild RW Cal Clutterbuck (ankle), LW Petr Sykora (groin) and C/RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard (concussion) are out. RW Martin Havlat (groin) is doubtful. Canucks C Pavol Demitra (shoulder), D Mathieu Schneider (shoulder), LW Daniel Sedin (foot), D Sami Salo (knee) and RW Jannik Hansen (hand) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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