Happy New Year everybody!

Wild had a short practice down at the X this morning, short because it had to get off the ice with the Schwan Cup starting at noon.

Strength coach Chris Pietrzak-Wegner tended one of the goals because Niklas Backstrom took a maintenance day to stay off his knee. Still, at times last night he looked to be laboring to get back to his feet as the play went the other way and is listed as questionable for Sunday's 5 p.m. game against Phoenix.

Cal Clutterbuck (lower body) practiced briefly this morning but left the ice with about 20 minutes left in practice and is also questionable.

Marek Zidlicky is sounding more and more serious. Both Chuck Fletcher and Todd Richards said this morning that Zidlicky will be out a long time. Fletcher said the team has to go over options with the medical staff, and Richards said surgery is one of those options.

It's really sounding like this shoulder injury could cost Zidlicky the season, which is a gigantic blow. The team so needs a right shot on the power-play point, Jared Spurgeon got a look there today and should see power-play action vs. the Coyotes.

The Wild will have a 9:30 a.m. skate for the 5 p.m. game, largely because it didn't do well having a very optional skate for yesterday's 5 p.m. skate.

Kent's got the game. I'm heading to New York to prepare for my 10-day trip to New Jersey, Boston, Pittsburgh and Nashville. I scored American Idiot tickets Sunday on Broadway, the Green Day musical, because Billie Joe Armstrong is actually playing St. Jimmy. So enjoy the game and talk to you Monday from Devils practice.