The Wild resumes its three-game trip tonight in Ottawa against the Senators, a team that can light ya up offensively but usually gives up a ton. They rank eighth in goals per game but have allowed 3.03 goals against per game, fourth-highest in the NHL.
The dynamic of their blue line did change with the Dion Phaneuf acquisition last month. They're by average giving up about half a goal less per game.
The Wild, 6-2 on the road in the Torch era, has won three in a row on the road and looks to gain a two-point edge on the Avs tonight.
Looks like the same lineup for the Wild tonight because as the players hit the first bus, Jason Zucker, Chris Porter and Mike Reilly were still on the ice getting bagged by the assistants.
Devan Dubnyk vs. Craig Anderson.
The Wild are tied for first in the NHL with Chicago and Florida by having 11 goal scorers with at least 10. One of those is Zucker, and John Torchetti said just like the Wild got Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville going again (although Vanek's in a dry spell from the goal department again), it's critical it gets Zucker going again, too. He has one goal in his past 21 games (since Jan. 7, and that doesn't includes the two scratches and six out with a concussion).
"When we get Zucks back in, we have to get going because he can be a big asset for us moving forward," Torchetti said.
If it were me -- win or lose tonight, I play Zucker in New Jersey. That game has the capability of being one big ugly muck-fest (I already bought Vivarin, an IV and espresso beans for Thursday's game), so I think Zucker's speed and offensive ability would be a good thing to infuse into the lineup.
