Wild gameday
2:30 P.M. vs. Chicago
TCF Bank Stadium
Ch. 11 (100.3-fm)
Preview: Finally, after years of anticipation, the 17th NHL outdoor game is the first held in Minnesota when the Wild plays rival Chicago. This will be the fourth Blackhawks outdoor game; they are 1-2. The Wild is 3-0 under new coach John Torchetti (it has yet to win four games in a row this season) and will try to avoid establishing a franchise record home winless streak (0-5-3) of nine games. The Blackhawks have scored 12 goals in consecutive victories. The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-30s and clouds.
Players to watch: Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews has two goals and five points in three outdoor games, the most by any player. RW Patrick Kane is running away with the NHL scoring race with 83 points and is second with 34 goals. Wild C Jarret Stoll is playing in his fourth outdoor game, LW Thomas Vanek his third, RW Jason Pominville and LW Ryan Carter their second. D Mike Reilly is the only Wild player who has played outdoors at TCF Bank Stadium as a Gopher. RW Charlie Coyle is tied with LW Zach Parise as the team's leading goal scorer with 18. He has eight in the past 12 games. Parise has seven points in the past seven games.
Numbers: The Wild, behind 12 goal scorers, scored five goals in three consecutive regulation games for the first time in team history.
Injuries: Wild D Jonas Brodin (broken foot) is out; D Marco Scandella (upper body) may return. Chicago RW Marian Hossa (leg) and C Marcus Kruger (wrist) are out.
Fan info: Performing will be Soul Asylum (pregame), Cheap Trick (first intermission) and Jazmine Sullivan (national anthem). … The spectator plaza is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
MICHAEL RUSSO
