Minnesota Wild (9-5-3) vs Columbus Blue Jackets (3-12-1)
Nationwide Arena @ 6:00PM CDT Television: FSN
Listen Live at: KFAN (100.3) or Wild.com
For the Columbus perspective, check out The Cannon
| Minnesota Wild | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Devin Setoguchi - Mikko Koivu - Dany Heatley Niklas Backstrom | R.J. Umberger - Jeff Carter - Rick Nash Grant Clitsome - James Wisniewski Steve Mason |
A few story lines to keep an eye on tonight. First, Wisniewski and Clutterbuck get to face each other for the first time since Wisniewski was suspended for a hit on Clutterbuck, and Matt Calvert has to face Pierre-Marc "The Reaper" Bouchard for the first time since Calvert hit himself in the face with Bouchard's stick, resulting in the biggest joke of a suspension in Brendan Shanahan's short stay as discipline czar.
Also of note, the Blue Jackets really aren't very good. The talking heads have been talking injuries, but let's face it, they just aren't that good to begin with. If the Wild play a game the style of the game against the Canucks, they should win this one easily. However, a wounded animal is far more dangerous, and the Jackets have nothing to lose. They will come out hard and fast, so unless the Wild match that intensity, they will be the wounded animal leaving the game.
The key, as always will be to (everyone with me) shoot the puck. Steve Mason is a terrible goalie. Down right awful, so if the Wild put pressure on him, he will crack. His backup is nothing special either, so shoot, shoot, shoot. It really is that simple.
Five Questions:
- Rick Nash owns the Wild. Does that continue?
- If Wellman plays, does he fit in?
- Can Nick Johnson find some luck with the puck?
- Can the Wild simply come out of this one without any further injuries?
- These two teams hate each other for some reason. Can they break 40 PIMs between them?