Minnesota Wild (27-25-9) vs San Jose Sharks (32-21-7)
Xcel Energy Center @ 5:00 PM CSTTelevision: FSN
Listen Live at: KFAN (100.3) or Wild.com
For the San Jose perspective, check out Fear The Fin
| Minnesota Wild | San Jose Sharks |
| Devin Setoguchi - Kyle Brodziak - Dany Heatley Marco Scandella - Jared Spurgeon Niklas Backstrom | Patrick Marleau - Joe Thornton - Joe Pavelski Marc-Edouard Vlasic - Dan Boyle Thomas Greiss |
Meet the new team, same as the old team?
Tonight Wild fans have plenty to watch. First off, the Wild will wear camo sweaters during warm-ups, which will then be autographed and auctioned off to benefit Defending the Blue Line. Be sure to bid big. If you are in on the bidding or not, make sure to stop by and cast a vote for DTBL in the Joining Forces Community Challenge. It takes about 30 seconds if you are not already registered, about ten if you are. You can also sign in using Facebook.
Here's the link: http://bit.ly/DTBLVote
Also to watch tonight are the new additions to the roster. Nick Palmieri, Kurtis Foster, and Stephane Veilleux make their Wild 2012 debuts. Hopefully each of them find their groove early and score often. The Wild are going to need it. Mikko Koivu remains out. The team has done OK without him, and is likely better off long term if he doesn't play, but could sure use his presence on the ice.
The Sharks come in fighting for their spot in the playoffs. With a lineup like they have, it is shocking that they sit as low as they do in the standings, but such is the way of the NHL. Load up on all the talent you want. If they won't play together, they'll lose together.
The last time the Wild played the Sharks, the secret was to put as many shots on net as possible, and expose the not so great goaltending. There is no reason to believe the plan should be any different tonight. Shoot = win. Pass = lose. Simple as that.
Five Questions:
- How do Foster and Veilleux look in their return?
- How does Palmieri look in his debut?
- Can Backstrom steal another one for the Wild?
- Do the camo sweaters bring some luck?
- One last chance to ask... buyers or sellers?