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Minnesota Wild    (23-16-2)    48pts    3rd in Northwest Division
2.68 Goals per Game (18th in NHL)
2.73 Goals Against per Game (14th in NHL)
20.4% Power Play (5th in NHL)
82.8% Penalty Kill (14th in NHL)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #10 Marian Gaborik ~ 21G 18A = 39pts
2. #96 P-M Bouchard ~ 7G 28A = 35pts
3. #12 Brian Rolston ~ 14G 17A = 31pts
4. #25 Eric Belanger ~ 10G 17A = 27pts
5. #8 Brent Burns ~ 8G 17A = 25pts
Top 3 Penalty Minutes:
1. #17 Todd Fedoruk ~ 74PIM’s
2. #34 Aaron Voros ~ 69PIM’s
3. #24 Derek Boogaard ~ 52PIM’s
Goaltenders:
1. #32 Niklas Backstrom ~   (16-8-1)   2.46GAA   .914SV%
2. #29 Josh Harding ~   (7-8-1)   3.08GAA   .903SV%
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Dallas Stars   (23-6-4)   50pts   2nd in Pacific Division
2.84 Goals per Game (10th in NHL)
2.60 Goals Against per Game (10th in NHL)
19.9% Power Play (7th in NHL)
87.8% Penalty Kill (1st in NHL)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #63 Mike Ribeiro ~ 21G 23A = 44pts
2. #10 Brenden Morrow ~ 15G 24A = 39pts
3. #56 Sergei Zubov ~ 4G 30A = 34pts
4. #9 Mike Modano ~ 12G 14A = 26pts
5. #15 Niklas Hagman ~ 14G 6A = 20pts
Top 3 Penalty Minutes:
1. #29 Steve Ott ~ 88PIM’s
2. #15 Niklas Hagman ~ 39PIM’s
3. #10 Brenden Morrow ~ 38PIM’s
Goaltenders:
1. #35 Marty Turco ~   (15-9-3)   2.47GAA   .905SV%
2. #41 Mike Smith ~   (8-7-0)   2.57GAA   .898SV%
If there is a theme to tonight’s game, it would be that of numbers. Of course all games are about numbers. First off, tonight begins the official start of the second half of the Wild’s season. At least the Wild are still sitting in playoff contention at this point. If the playoffs were to start today, they would be sitting in the sixth playoff spot. However, the playoffs don’t start today, and it would behoove the Wild to play better if they wish to maintain their hold on that spot or an even better spot.
Then there’s the all-important question of the Wild’s number nine. The good news is that Mikko Koivu is on this road trip. The bad news is that he won’t be in the lineup tonight. The rumor now, is that Koivu will most likely crack (no pun intended) back into the lineup either Thursday night in Detroit or Friday night in Chicago. However, even with Koivu’s return, don’t expect to see number thirty-eight getting back on the wing anytime soon. According to the Twin Cities’ press, Wild head coach Jacques Lemaire is planning on keeping Pavol Demitra at center between Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard at least for the time being.
If there are numbers that people should be concerned about, it is the difference between the Wild’s goals per game and their goals against per game. Right now, the Wild are allowing on average more goals against than what they’re scoring. Of course even the most casual of fans could tell you that. However, the margin is still small enough that the Wild are able to win games. But, that is not a gamble the Wild should continue to play.
The next number to look at is 2. That is the number of consecutive games Wild defenseman Martin Skoula has been a healthy scratch. Many are wondering if two will become three, or if Lemaire will end that streak and bring his (mind-boggling to fans) favorite defenseman back.
Then there is the number 3. As of now, the Dallas Stars should be without three of their players: Jussi Jokinen (knee), Philippe Boucher (shoulder), and Jeri Lehtinen (sports hernia). You almost have to feel somewhat sorry for the Stars to be short three of their players, however it is highly doubtful that many in Minnesota or former fans of the North Stars will have much sympathy for the team from Dallas. Of course in sports, injuries come and go.
The number the Wild should be the most concerned with is 2. The Wild desperately need to the 2 points, preferably in regulation. The Stars have had some struggles as of late, and hopefully the Wild can pull themselves up by the bootstraps and capitalize on the Stars’ current problems. However, the Stars may have other plans, such as doing to the Wild what the Wild did to the Stars during their last matchup.
Of course we’ll have to wait until the numbers on the clock read 7:30, and then wait through three 20-minute periods of hockey are played to figure out what the final numbers will be.
This entry was posted on Monday, January 7th, 2008 at 2:12 pm and is filed under 2007-08 Game Reports & Previews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
