Good evening from the Star Tribune think tank, where I've been pounding away at the keyboard and doing my final prep work for Finland.

Phone plan changed. Wireless air card plan changed. Credit cards notified, plus I'm bringing along a couple other goodies to become a full multi-media reporter. Over the next week, be sure to buy the paper and check back at startribune.com for some video I'll be shooting during the trip.

Today's practice was a workmanlike one. Grit, intensity, puck battles, especially in the D zone, as the Wild prepares for its final North American exhibition game Thursday night against Columbus. Here's Columbus' lineup for Thursday. I'd suspect we see around the same Wild lineup as the team played Tuesday in Columbus. The plan, by the way, is to cut a defenseman Thursday. I'd be beyond shocked if it's Justin Falk. The guy has been terrific, and was again solid as a rock in Columbus.

After the game, it'll head to MSP for its flight to Helsinki.

After arriving, the three Finns and the one GM and head coach will hold a news conference at the airport before checking into the team hotel and going for an off-ice workout to get the blood flowing after a nine-hour flight.

Cam Barker (hip flexor) skated on his own today. Guillaume Latendresse (hip flexor) and Marek Zidlicky (charleyhorse) didn't practice. All won't play vs. Columbus, but all will be on the flight to Helsinki and should be ready for Monday's preseason game vs. Ilves or at the very least Opening Night vs. the Carolina Hurricanes next Thursday (Vs., 11 a.m.).

Only other piece of news: Michel Therrien was in the Columbus press box hanging around Chuck Fletcher yesterday, and it turns out the former Penguins and Canadiens coach will be doing some part-time scouting for the Wild. Before you jump to conclusions, I don't see any motives here. Therrien's a trapping coach -- a disciple of his former coach, Jacques Lemaire. I don't see a 180-degree flop back in systems down the road.

For your viewing pleasure, here's the Wild's itinerary in Finland:

Thursday

7 p.m. Wild vs. Columbus

11 p.m. Wild charter departs Minneapolis for Helsinki

(all times Helsinki)

Friday

4:00 P.M. Arrive in Helsinki

4:45 P.M. Press conference at airport; Chuck Fletcher, Todd Richards, Mikko Koivu, Niklas Backstrom, Antti Miettinen

6:00 P.M. Light workout at tea.m. hotel

6-9:00 P.M. Flexible tea.m. buffet dinner

Saturday

10:30 A.M. Practice at practice arena

2:30 P.M. Cruise to private island for sauna, barbecue

8:30 P.M. Cruise back to Helsinki from cruise

Sunday

12:00 P.M. Open Practice for fans at Hartwall Areena

3:00 P.M. Player/Staff Tour of Helsinki

6:00 P.M. Player only dinner

Monday

10:30 A.M. Morning Skate at Hartwall Areena

2:30 P.M. Bus departs for Tampere, Finland

7:00 P.M. Preseason game at Tampere Ilves

10:00 P.M. Dinner at arena in Tampere

12:30 A.M. Bus arrives in Helsinki

Tuesday

11:00 A.M. Practice at Hartwall Areena

12:30 P.M. Fan Lunch at Hartwall Areena

4:30 P.M. NHLPA meeting with Donald Fehr (at Crowne Plaza)

Wednesday

1:00 P.M. Practice at Hartwall Areena

6:00 P.M. Team Dinner

Thursday, Oct. 7

10:30 A.M. Wild morning skate at Hartwall Areena

11:30 A.M. Carolina Hurricanes morning skate at Hartwall Areena

7:00 P.M. (11 a.m. CT) Opening Night vs. Carolina (Versus)

Friday, Oct. 8

10:30 A.M. Carolina Hurricanes morning skate at Hartwall Areena

11:30 A.M. Wild morning skate at Hartwall Areena

7:00 P.M. (11 a.m. CT) Wild at Carolina Hurricanes (Versus)

12:00 A.M. Charter for Iceland to refuel

3:25 A.M. CT Wild arrives in Minneapolis (thousands can meet the team at the airport to celebrate the team's win of the cherished silver Tikkanen Cup).

OKie dokie, Kent Youngblood will be blogging from the morning, I may blog from the game. At the very least, I'll be on Twitter during the game.