San Jose Sharks (42-11-9) vs. Minnesota Wild (30-27-5)
HP Pavilion @ 9:30 CST
Television: FSN
Radio: Listen Live
For the San Jose perspective, check out Fear the Fin or Battle of California
Tonight's lines:
Minnesota Wild | San Jose Sharks |
| Miettinen - Koivu - Brunette Burns - Schultz Backstrom | Marleau - Thornton - Setoguchi Boyle - Murray Boucher |
NOTES:
- Minnesota is in 11th in the West, but is within three points of seventh.
- Evgeni Nabokov has missed the last three games with the flu, and Brian Boucher has given up seven goals in consecutive losses.
- Minnesota has given up a conference-low 2.35 goals per game.
- Backstrom had lost all six of his career starts against San Jose before winning on Dec. 31.
- The Wild have lost four straight in San Jose.
- Patrick Marleau leads the Sharks with 34 goals, conversely Owen Nolan leads the Wild with 17.
Questions to Answer
- With Boucher in net, Moen and Huskins not yet in the fold, Roenick, Grier and Lemieux injured have the Wild gotten a break?
Will the Sharks get retribution for the loss on New Years Eve?
Do the Sharks snap out of their offensive slump?
Will this be an 0-fer west coast trip?
Will the team be inspired at all by the new member... wait ... they didn't do anything?