wild gameday
2 P.M. at Vancouver • Rogers ARENA • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: This is the 12th time in franchise history the Wild has played Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver on the same road trip. This will be the Wild's second chance to sweep. The first sweep was March 13-17, 2007. In fact, this is only the third time the Wild has won two games on the three-game swing. The Wild has won two in a row in Vancouver after a stretch in which it went 0-9-2. The Canucks have lost two of their past three and are 4-5 in their past nine.
Players to watch: The Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, are tied for the Canucks lead with 31 assists apiece. Henrik's 47 assists in 74 games are first all-time against Minnesota, and his 58 points are second. Daniel's 56 points in 71 games against Minnesota are third all-time. G Ryan Miller is 4-3 all-time against the Wild with a 2.46 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. With the Wild, G Devan Dubnyk is 4-1 in six starts with a 1.66 GAA and .931 save percentage. LW Zach Parise has six goals in the past six games.
Numbers: The Canucks have the NHL's third-best penalty kill (87.1 percent). … The Canucks are 20-1-2 when leading after two periods, 11-2-3 in one-goal games and 19-4-2 when scoring first.
Injuries: Wild D Ryan Suter (lower body) didn't practice Saturday, and coach Mike Yeo indicated there's a chance he won't play if this could be something that nags. Wild RW Justin Fontaine (groin) also didn't practice Saturday. D Keith Ballard (concussion) is out. Canucks D Kevin Bieksa (hand) and C Brad Richardson (lower body) are out; RW Derek Dorsett (head) is day-to-day.
MICHAEL RUSSO
