Boston Bruins (29-6-4) vs Minnesota Wild (19-16-3)

TD Banknorth Garden @ 6:00 CST

Television: Versus (HD)
Radio: Listen Live

For the Boston perspective, check out The Bruins Report

Tonight's lines:

NOTES:

• Boston will try to avoid its first consecutive defeats since October.
• The Bruins are 14-2-1 at home.
• The Wild are ranked second behind the Bruins with a 2.26 team GAA.
• Backstrom made 29 saves in his only visit to Boston, a 2-1 Minnesota win on March 8, 2007.
• The Wild have never lost at TD Banknorth Garden, winning all four visits as part of their 7-1-0 record all-time against the Bruins, who have scored 13 total goals in the series.
• Stephane Veilleux is sick. Derek Boogaard has an upper body injury that’s keeping him out of a second straight game tonight. (Anyone else think it's from his beating of Jody Shelley?)
  

Questions to Answer

1. Apparently Manny was a bit moody talking to Russo, Shipley and Tom Reid. Will the Wild get in his head?
   
2. The Wild have played 3 solid games in a row on both ends of the ice. Will that continue tonight?
   
3. Is tonight the night that the Wild's streak at TD Banknorth Garden ends?
   
4. Will Benoit Pouliot perform well while being out of the doghouse for one night?
   
5. Will we watch Kessel and Wheeler, then look at Mariucci Arena and ask "What if?"
   

Colorado Avalanche (19-18-1) @ Minnesota Wild (18-16-3)

Pepsi Center @ 7:00 CST

Television: FSN (HD)
Radio: Listen Live

For the Colorado perspective, check out Mile High Hockey

Tonight's lines:

NOTES:

• The Wild dropped into last place in the Northwest after losing 10 of 14 games (4-9-1) in December.
• Niklas Backstrom is 8-2-1 versus the Avalanche.
• Pierre-Marc Bouchard has three goals in two games versus the Avalanche this season.
• Minnesota looks to earn at least one point in three consecutive games for the first time since mid-November.

Questions to Answer

1. With no Sakic, Stastny or McCormick, and Wolski moving to center, can the Avalanche find an offensive groove?
   
2. Will the Wild bounce back from a heart-breaking loss to the Red Wings?
   
3. With 33:33 of TOI last night, and Brent Burns have the juice to put in another workmanlike performance tonight?
   
4. Can Nolan and Miettinen continue to contribute offensively?
   
5. Will the kids perform, or continue to flounder?
   

Detroit Red Wings (25-7-5) @ Minnesota Wild (18-16-2)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:00 CST

Television: KSTC-HD (12/45)
Radio: Listen Live

For the Detroit perspective, check out Winging it in Motown

Tonight's lines:

NOTES:

• The Wild dropped into last place in the Northwest after losing 10 of 14 games (4-9-1) in December.
• Pavel Datsyuk, who leads the Red Wings with 26 assists and 42 points, has eight goals and nine assists during a season-high nine-game point streak.
• Detroit is 8-0-2 in 10 meetings with Minnesota since a 4-2 home loss on Jan. 3, 2006.
• The Red Wings are 6-0-1 at Xcel Energy Center since the teams played to a 1-1 tie on Nov. 15, 2003.
• Minnesota's defense is tied with East-leading Boston, allowing a league-low 84 goals.
• Marian Gaborik was officially placed on the IR to make room for John Scott.
• Marek Zidlicky, who has been ill the past few days, was back on the ice this morning.

Questions to Answer

1. Will the return of the C to Mikko Koivu's sweater matter at all?
   
2. Does Marian Gaborik's injury situation being identified help the team move on and get past it?
   
3. Can they build on a nice showing against San Jose and get the new month started on the right foot?
4. Do Lidstrom and Chelios play a bigger role in today's game than they did in the Winter Classic?
5. With Gaborik going out, is there any way they can make a move?
   

Ladies and Gentlemen, thanks to our friends at From the Rink, Puck Daddy, Winging it in Motown and Second City Hockey, we at Hockey Wilderness are proud to be a partner in the Winter Classic Live Blog Experience.

This live blog is not simply used by Wild fans, as is typical here at Hockey Wilderness, but instead will be used by hockey fans around the world to discuss the Winter Classic live from Wrigley Field. We are incredibly excited to be part of this event.

San Jose Sharks (28-4-4) @ Minnesota Wild (17-16-2)

Xcel Energy Center @ 5:00 CST

Television: FSN
Radio: Listen Live

For the San Jose perspective, check out Fear the Fin

Tonight's lines:

NOTES:

• Minnesota was within one point of the lead in the Northwest Division at the end of November, but a 3-9-1 slide this month has dropped it into last place.
• The Wild has been outscored 23-11 going 0-6-2 in the last 8 vs. San Jose. In those 8, Evgeni Nabokov posted a 1.35 gaa.
• The Sharks have just one regulation loss in their last 20 games, going 15-1-4 since a 4-2 defeat at Phoenix on Nov. 9.
• Owen Nolan, who is definitely not ready to play, asked Jacques to play.

Questions to Answer

1. Is Russo right? Should they just tank the rest of the season?
   
2. Will the boo birds return?
   
3. Why are they playing at 5:00?
   
4. Will the Wild amass more than 20 shots?
   
5. Do Lemaire and Risebrough care?
   

Minnesota Wild (16-14-2) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (16-14-5)

Xcel Energy Center @ 7:00 CST

Television: KSTC (12/45)
Radio: Listen live on WCCO.com, or locally at 830 AM

Tonight's lines:

NOTES:

• Joe Corvo has earned points in four straight
• The Hurricanes are 7-5-4 on the road
• Carolina has earned points in seven of its last eight games
• Carolina is 1-2-0 with two ties in Minnesota, and hasn't won there since a 7-3 victory on Oct. 24, 2001.

Questions to Answer

1. Can they rebound from a weak performance against the Blues?
   
2. Does Gaborik get on the scoresheet early and often?
   
3. With Bergeron out, does the D improve?
   
4. How long until the fans revolt? Is apathy setting in for yet another pro sports franchise in the Twin Cities?
   
5. Does anyone else miss The Whale?
   

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St. Louis Blues (12-16-3) vs. Minnesota Wild (16-13-2)

Scottrade Center @ 7:30 CST

Television: FSN (HD)
Radio: Listen live on WCCO.com, or locally at 830 AM

For the St. Louis perspective, check out St. Louis Game Time

Tonight's lines:

NOTES:

• The Wild have won six of the last eight in the series

Questions to Answer

1. Does the offense continue their quality play from last night?
   
2. Will Jacques keep Brunette, Gaborik and Koivu together?
   
3. Can Burns get back into the flow of the game on the blue line?
   
4. Will the kids play well two nights in a row?
   
5. Does Boogaard stay on the power play unit, creating traffic in the slot?