Tonight is the third of four games this season between Minnesota and Detroit. The Wings won both prior contests, beginning with a 5-0 win on December 7th and continuing with a 4-1 decision on the 22nd. The last game of the series will be played on February 5th in Minnesota.
The Wild are 3-3-0 since we saw them last. They followed up their loss to the Wings on the 22nd by getting beaten 8-3 by Dallas. They rebounded the next night with a 3-2 win in Phoenix and a 5-4 overtime win versus the Oilers two nights later. They lost 3-2 to San Jose on New Year’s Eve, but got revenge on Dallas with a 6-3 win on January 3rd. Since then, however, they’ve dropped two in a row, including a 4-1 decision in Nashville. On Monday, they lost 3-1 in Dallas. Tonight’s game is the third of a four-stop road trip that will have the Wild in Chicago tomorrow night.
Marian Gaborik leads the team with 21 goals and 40 points, and was named a Western Conference All Star reserve today. He is the only Minnesota player so honored.
Mikko Koivu is healthy, but will not dress because the team has no room on the roster. Derek Boogaard (back) is out.
Expect Nicklas Backstrom to start tonight for the Wild.
For the Wild perspective, see The State of Hockey News, Wild Puck Banter, Casual Hockey, Puck Wild, In the State of Hockey, and Land of Lakes and Hockey.
The Wings are 7-1-0 since they last faced Minnesota, with their only loss coming New Year’s Eve to St. Louis. They are coming off a tightly-contested 1-0 win over Colorado on Tuesday night. The game came two nights after their first win over the Blackhawks this season, a 3-1 decision in Chicago. The afternoon before, they shut out the Dallas Stars, 3-0.
Valtteri Filppula has not scored in six games, though he has three assists over that span. I’m benching him tonight in favor of Mike Richards on my fantasy team, so that should mean he’ll break out of his slump in spectacular fashion. Jiri Hudler also has not scored in six, so I would say he’s due, as well.
The team is fully healthy at the moment, though it is possible that Babcock could make an adjustment or two at the 11th or 12th forward level by inserting Matt Ellis and/or Aaron Downey at the expense of Dallas Drake and/or Tomas Kopecky.
Chris Osgood will be the starter tonight. He was named a reserve for the Western Conference All Stars today. Former Red Wing Manny Legace was also named to the team.
For more of the Wings’ perspective, see Snapshots, Abel to Yzerman, HockeyTownTodd, Behind the Jersey, No Pun Intended, Red Wings Nation, yzerman is god, Detroit Hockey, LetsGoWings, and Winging It In Motown.
The Wings have dominated the Wild in both games this season and ought to be able to do so again, assuming Tuesday’s close game wasn’t a sign of flagging play. Minnesota would obviously like to put on a better show this time around, but if the Wings are on top of their game, it won’t matter.
By the way, the Wild announced today that former Nashville Predators owner Craig Leopold is buying the team. So, one of Gary Bettman’s biggest supporters and top small market apologists is back in the picture. Wonderful.