GDT: 03/25/17 - Canucks @ Wild - 1PM CT / 8PM Finland - FS-N

[Lapa]

Minnesota tries again to clinch playoff berth; goaltender Richard Bachman to start for Vancouver

After a 4-1 loss at the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, the Canucks, 1-5-2 in their past eight games, were mathematically eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention. "You try to keep yourself kind of positive and stay energized, but it's tough when you're out of [the playoff race]," center Brandon Sutter said after practice Friday. "It's not easy, it's kind of a tough time of year, but you've just got to keep pushing through, and the more character we show in that kind of helps us next year. Just trying to get better."

The Minnesota Wild, 2-8-0 in their past 10 games, will try again to clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth with a victory. They are eight points behind the Chicago Blackhawks for first place in the Central Division and Western Conference with one game in hand. The Wild hope to get a boost from the expected return of defenseman Christian Folin, who has missed 10 games with an upper-body injury. "He's a big defenseman that can play physical when he's on top of his game," coach Bruce Boudreau said Friday, "and we certainly could use that."

Canucks projected lineup

Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Michael Chaput

Sven Baertschi -- Bo Horvat -- Reid Boucher

Jack Skille -- Brandon Sutter -- Nikolay Goldobin

Joe Labate -- Drew Shore -- Alex Biega

Alexander Edler -- Troy Stecher

Luca Sbisa -- Christopher Tanev

Ben Hutton -- Nikita Tryamkin

Richard Bachman

Ryan Miller

Scratched: Philip Larsen, Joseph Cramarossa

IR: Markus Granlund (wrist), Jacob Markström (illness), Derek Dorsett (back), Erik Gudbranson (wrist), Anton Rodin (knee), Loui Eriksson (knee), Jayson Megna (upper body), Brendan Gaunce (hand)

Wild projected lineup

Charlie Coyle -- Eric Staal -- Zach Parise

Jason Zucker -- Mikko Koivu -- Mikael Granlund

Nino Niederreiter -- Martin Hanzal -- Jason Pominville

Chris Stewart -- Erik Haula -- Jordan Schroeder

Ryan Suter -- Jared Spurgeon

Marco Scandella -- Matt Dumba

Jonas Brodin -- Christian Folin

Devan Dubnyk

Darcy Kuemper

Scratched: Ryan White, Nate Prosser
Injured: Victor Bartley (arm)

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[Jesus comma Brodin]

 

[W75]

Hockey!

 

[Sharppi]

I'm not sure if I want to watch this game.

 

[Fremitus Borealis]

Really wish the Blackhawks weren't 8 points up. Ah well.

 

[Lapa]

I'm not sure if I want to watch this game.

 

[gphr513]

Only she can break the curse

 

[TwiztedHeat]

Boeser playing tonight for the Nucks

 

[It is Wild World]

Losing has been tough but the part that gets men is they have been playing boring hockey like Lemaire/Yeo era boring

They probably won't catch Chicago, but they need to get back into their style of play which was ton of fun.

 

[TerminatorBlue]

Anyone know who's in net today... back to back?

 

[Lapa]

Anyone know who's in net today... back to back?

No confirmation yet.

 

[57special]

Hoping for something different today... some sign that the Wild are pulling out of this funk. It's been awful.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Driving from Indy to Wisco today. This game will give me something to refrain from playing the Florida game winning shot over and over in my head.

Stomp them. Just do it.

 

[gphr513]

Boeser playing tonight for the Nucks

Whoa, for real?

Loses a double OT heartbreaker last night, and is playing in St. Paul like 18 hours later?

 

[TwiztedHeat]

whoa, for real?

Loses a double ot heartbreaker last night, and is playing in st. Paul like 18 hours later?

 

[gphr513]

Oh, I wasn't doubting you! Just surprised that he would go for such a quick turnaround!

 

[Love]

Oh, I wasn't doubting you! Just surprised that he would go for such a quick turnaround!

Im not surprised by the signing but yes I am also very surprised he is playing today. My guess is that he's playing because he has the opportunity to make his NHL debut in his hometown which will be an amazing experience for him.

 

[gphr513]

Nice to see Folin back today.

 

[Canucks LB]

Hometown kid

 

[Minnesota]

Wow, Canucks have quite a few injuries.

 

[W75]

Game time.

 

[gphr513]

Alright, let's do it.

 

[Minnesota]

Parise looks fierce tonight.

 

[Minnesota]

Wish Parise would have shot that low... Coyle could have gotten a rebound. Didn't really have a good shot at the one-timer.

 

[gphr513]

Mikko had some net to work with there but couldn't connect on the one timer, damn.