Wild-Penguins lineups for Monday's preseason game; oodles of Wild updates

A couple light, fun practices at Xcel Energy Center today. The second practice, which comprised pretty much the NHL roster and a couple hopefuls, ended with a shootout competition.

After a goal, the player who scored threw his stick somewhere on the ice. The last player not to score would be tasked with picking up all the sticks, which were scattered on virtually every inch of the ice surface.

Matt Cooke -- the oldest skater on the team -- lost, making for a comedic scene when "Cookie" had to gather all the sticks. Just to make it a really challenging chore, a couple guys tossed all those extra sticks that rested on the bench onto the ice much to amusement of all the players and coaches, and management in the stands.

Oh, and maybe the media.

"It's my own fault," Cooke said, laughing, afterward. "I hit three posts. I beat the goalie every time, but I have nobody but myself to blame. I'm saving my goals for the season."

Monday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the 1-1-1 Wild plays its fourth preseason game. Minnesota lost 3-2 in overtime Thursday in Pittsburgh.

The Pens are bringing a good lineup (see here), including Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, former Gopher Paul Martin and former Wild Pascal Dupuis.

Forwards

Zach Parise-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville

Thomas Vanek (preseason home debut)-Mikko Koivu-Charlie Coyle

Matt Cooke-Kyle Brodziak-Jordan Schroeder

Michael Keranen-Stephane Veilleux-Cody Almond-Zack Phillips

Defensemen

Ryan Suter-Jonas Brodin

Marco Scandella-Christian Folin

Stu Bickel-Matt Dumba

(Wild looks like it wants to see if Bickel can play the left side)

Darcy Kuemper is slated to play the full 60

Ilya Bryzgalov will back up

This is a big game for guys like Schroeder, Veilleux, Almond.

We talked to coach Mike Yeo today a lot about Keranen and how he keeps getting better in camp, and Yeo volunteered that in the meeting he just emerged from, the brass and coaches were commenting that they weren't having enough of these "debates," that not enough bubble players have put themselves on the map to make the team, that it was the veterans who were unusually leading the way and showing the most urgency in camp.

Yeo wasn't talking about guys like Folin and Dumba. He was talking about the bubble guys, some of whom we have only seen play one game (maybe Justin Falk, maybe Brett Bulmer).

Zucker won't play Monday and is said to be healthy. Yeo said nothing should be made of that, that he just wanted to get the veterans in that need games and just wanted to get guys in "that we have to answer questions on." Yeo said he told Zucker that he shouldn't be "panicking" and that he's having a good camp.

Incidentally, Yeo had to stop that mostly minor-league practice because he was not happy the way they were practicing.

Yeo talked a lot about Folin and Dumba today. Dumba was really impressive. Until I watched the game again, I didn't realize how good a job he did on the breakout and entry prior to Jared Spurgeon's winner. He basically made the play because Winnipeg cleared the zone with about 30 seconds left in the power play.

We asked Yeo if there's room for both on the team. Personally, I don't see how there is if the Wild's healthy, but Yeo didn't want to get into that yet.

"I don't think it's fair to them," Yeo said. "I know they're reading and analyzing everyday, not just their own play, but the play of everybody else. I just want them to concentrate on their game, show us what they can do and relax and have fun doing it. Both guys have earned the opportunity to be in the lineup [Monday]. We'll keep giving them the chance to show what they can do."