Minnesota Wild play host the league leading Vancouver Canucks
The second last game of Tuesday will be hosted by the Minnesota Wild as they will be up against the Vancouver Canucks. This is the fourth meeting between the two sides out of the six meetings scheduled to take place.
Out of the three meetings taken place already, Minnesota won the first 6-2 while Canucks won the second 5-1 easily. However, in their most recent meeting on the 16th of January 2011, Wild absolutely thrashed the Canucks and won the game 4-0 in
the end.
Both the teams are in superb form recently as they have won games regularly and are looking in good shape with the season approaching its end. Minnesota has come up with some excellent results recently which have seen them winning nine out of their last
eleven games. Though they were struggling in the middle part of the season but with the impressive performances they have bagged, they are within one point out of the last play-off finishing spot.
"Guys are playing great defensively," Wild defenseman Cam Barker said. "I think we're keeping it to the outside. Goalies are seeing all the pucks, and obviously the goalies are playing well too."
Minnesota has been in excellent touch recently as they have won the last four games playing home. Not only this, but with the hard work they have put in this past Saturday they won their third consecutive game 3-1 against the St. Louis Blues. Considering
the fact that all of Minnesota’s nine wins have come during the course of regulation time they surely deserve a spot in the play-offs.
"I think there's another level of confidence right now with our group, figuring out the identity of our team and how we need to play," Minnesota coach Todd Richards said.
Minnesota has played 55 games in the season so far out of which they have won 30 games in regulation time, 5 games in overtime and have scored 65 points. On the other hand, Canucks have played 57 games out of which they have won 36 games in regulation time,
9 games in overtime and lead the lead and the Western Conference with 81 points.
The only problem that the Canucks seem to be facing is the fact that they are getting too many players injured. Andrew Alberts is the latest addition to the list broke his wrist in today’s game against the St. Louis which resulted in them losing the game
3-2 in the end.
"Injuries are part of the game and as a group, you've got to pull together and find ways to win hockey games," Vigneault said Monday night. "Obviously we're getting tested right now, but we're going to fly to Minnesota and have a couple of good meetings
tomorrow and come up with a plan that's going to give us an opportunity to win tomorrow night."
The game will surely be very exciting and entertaining but Canucks have the higher odds of winning the game and further strengthening their lead up front.
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