According to Four Square on Twitter, Nathan is at Babies R Us right now, so I will throw a quick game thread together. Always good to have a twitter feed to keep track of that guy, he's elusive.

vs

For enemy perspective, drive to Calgary. I kid, I kid. Visit Matchsticks and Gasoline

As for this game, I'm not sure how many fans care if the Wild win or lose at this point. It seems to be more about getting the young guys some TOI, and trying to re-learn the system. Hopefully the Wild can keep from embarrassing themselves too bad.

Five Questions to Answer:

1. Jarome Iginla. The man, the myth, the legend. Can the Wild limit him to under ten points?

2. Guillaume Latendresse is without a goal in the past three games, and pointless in the last two. Can he get back on the board?

3. Casey Wellman has yet to experience a division rivalry. Does he get in the game, and does he show off his skills again?

4. Greg Zanon has a broken right ankle. Broken, people, as in, busted. He said "We'll see how it is on Sunday." Does superman heal miraculously and play today, or does the medical staff tell him he can't go?

5. Looks like Backstrom in net after missing a handful of games. Does he play well, or will he be rusty?

Bonus Buddha Question:

6. Does my distaste for the Wings outweigh my allegiance to the Wild? In other words, do I really want the Flames to lose today, thus helping the Wings make the playoffs?

Enjoy the game. Hopefully Nathan got something pretty at the store. ;-)

 

Minnesota Wild (34-30-6) @ Columbus Blue Jackets (28-31-11)

Nationwide Arena @ 6:00 CDT

Television: None
Radio: 830 AM WCCO, or online at Wild.com

For the Nashville perspective, check out On the Forecheck

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. Another day, another game we can't watch. Does anyone care?
   
2. How will Casey Wellman look in his NHL debut?
   
3. How about Justin Falk?
   
4. Can we get a rebound from a horrible performance last night?
   
5. Is Josh Harding going to try to clean something off the ice again and give up another goal?
   

Minnesota Wild (34-29-6) @ Nashville Predators (39-26-8)

Bridgestone Center @ 7:00 CDT

Television: None
Radio: 830 AM WCCO, or online at Wild.com

For the Nashville perspective, check out On the Forecheck

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. Nashville and Minnesota have typically played firewagon hockey. Will tonight be any different?
2. Steve Sullivan has owned the Wild this year. Can Minnesota keep him off the board?
3. Andrew Brunette has four points in his last three games. Will tonight continue that trend?
4. Can the Lats - Ebbett - Marty Havlat line get back in the flow and take it to the Predators?
5. Will the Wild get Josh Harding his second career 4-game win streak?
   

  VS.

Nathan is still MIA. Well, OK, he is in Orlando, but that may as well be MIA, right? So, you are left with a boring old game thread from me.

Enemy Blog:

The Copper & Blue

Fun facts:

The Wild have won 12 straight vs the Oilers at the X, tied for second longest streak in the NHL.

Wellman will be the first college free agent to sign and play for the Wild since North Dakota’s Travis Roche signed prior to the last game of the inaugural 2000-2001 season. (via Wild.com)

Injury Report:

Derek Boogaard, Brent Burns, Niklas Backstrom, Shane Hnidy, Pierre-Marc Bouchard all will be out for sure. Greg Zanon is a game time decision (Justin Falk would fill in). Wade Dubielwicz will back-up Josh Harding, in Harding's fourth straight start. Owen Nolan looks to be playing.

Five Questions to Answer:

1. Harding looked bad in his first of four starts, and has since played well. Which Harding shows up tonight?

2. The Oilers are the worst team in hockey. Can the Wild avoid another embarrassing loss?

3. Will Casey Wellman or Justin Falk make their NHL debut, and if so, how will they look?

4. It's no longer if Latendresse will score, but how many, so: How many goals will Guillaume Latendresse score tongiht?

5. Will John Scott get to dance with Stortini, or does neither team really care any more?

Bonus Buddha Question:

6. Do the Oilers want Taylor Hall, or Tyler Seguin?

Enjoy the game.

-Buddha

Nathan is at Disney World, I forgot to make a game thread. Sorry.

Hopefully Nathan doesn't fire me.

Five Questions to Answer:

1. Can I help my wife write a budget for work and watch hockey at the same time?

2. Can the Wild play hard despite the fact that their season is all but mathematically over?

3. How will Harding look in his third straight game?

4. How many fights will there be?

5. If a game is played in Saint Paul, and nobody cares, does it still count?

 


Minnesota Wild (31-30-5) @ Buffalo Sabres (36-20-9)

HSBC Arena @ 6:30 CST

Television: FS-N(HD)
Radio: BOB 106.1 FM and KBGY 107.5 FM, or online at Wild.com

For the Buffalo perspective, check out Die By The Blade

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. Will anyone else get a little misty watching Thomas Vanek and remember the days when the Gophers were awesome?
   
2. Can the Wild get to Patrick Lalime?
   
3. Will Guillaume Latendresse be able to go full-speed tonight, or will he show signs of the injury last night?
   
4. Did the Wild even get tired enough last night to have an effect tonight?
5. Should the Wild just go ahead and put Niklas Backstrom to pasture for the rest of the season?

Minnesota Wild (31-29-5) @ Detroit Red Wings (31-23-12)

Joe Louis Arena @ 6:30 CST

Television: NHLN-US(HD), FS-N(HD)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM, or online at Wild.com

For the Detroit perspective, check out Winging It In Motown

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. The Red Wings sure like that extra point for losing in OT or the shootout. Any chance they try to get another one in OT tonight?
   
2. Will the Wild actually show up tonight?
   
3. Better TV viewing, Wild v. Red Wings or Minnetonka v. Lakeville North and Hill-Murray v. Duluth East?
   
4. How badly will HW be invaded tonight?
5. If Brent Burns is injured in the forest and nobody notices, did it really happen?

Minnesota Wild (31-28-5) @ Florida Panthers (26-28-10)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:00 CST

Television: KSTC
Radio: WCCO 830 AM, or online at Wild.com

For the Florida perspective, check out Litter Box Cats

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. So, can the Wild give a beatdown to a team who has given up on the season?
   
2. How will Petr Kalus look in his premiere?
   
3. Can the Irish God of War provide some leadership to the younguns?
   
4. Will Benedict Russo show his true colors tonight?
   
5. Cal Clutterbuck is out because of a charley horse? Really? Ok.

  


Minnesota Wild (31-27-5) @ Calgary Flames (31-24-9)

Xcel Energy Center @ 2:00 CST

Television: KSTP (HD)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM, or online at Wild.com

For the Calgary perspective, check out Matchsticks and Gasoline

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. Calgary get payback?
   
2. Jarome Iginla is the leading scorer against the Wild, but is goal-less since 2008. Will the streak be extended?
   
3. Which Wild team will show up?
   
4. Can Guillaume Latendresse extend his goal lead?
   
5. Will the Wild miss Derek Boogaard?

 
Minnesota Wild (31-27-4) @ Edmonton Oilers (19-38-6)

Rexall Place @ 8:00 CST

Television: FSN (HD)
Radio: WCCO 830 AM, or online at Wild.com

For the Edmonton perspective, check out The Copper & Blue

Wild.com Game Preview

Questions to Answer

1. Patrick O'Sullivan has a worse +/- than he has points (-32, 30 points). Will this get worse after tonight?
   
2. Will Owen Nolan wear a face shield, or is he impervious to pain?
   
3. Have the Oilers given up on the season, or will the new look squad in Edmonton be looking to build on something for next season?
   
4. Mikko Koivu and Andrew Brunette both have point streaks going (three games and four games respectively). Can they extend these tonight?
   
5. The Wild have looked pretty bad at Edmonton lately. Can they rebound and get another regulation win to inch closer to the playoff hunt?