Storylines for the Game
Both recently named to the United States 2014 Olympic Team, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are the pride of the Minnesota Wild and the joy of the American hockey team. Name to the so called American team's "Leadership group", both players are in contention for the big "C" and both are very, very deserving American-born players. America.
Alex Ovechkin. What more has to be said? He already has 31 goals this season. He's on pace for 65. He's the closest player to 50 goals in 50 games in years. After being held without a goal for four straight games, he scored a goal against Carolina a few days ago. While the Wild are going to have to shut him down as best as they can, he played without the team's leading scorer, Nicklas Backstrom, last game. If the Capitals play these two players on two separate lines again, the Wild might have some troubles.
Ryan Suter is on fire. He has 11 points in his last 11 games. He finally picked up his first goal a few games ago and now has his second. He's picked up his overall play and is in contention for a Norris once again. Koivu, while not doing quite as well, is on pace for over 60 points and is playing very responsibly defensively. The Kaptain has six points in his last four games, including two multi-point games. And to top it all off? The first permenant Captain in Wild history is only seven points away from overtaking the franchise record for points. Boom.
Michal Neuvirth is the center of a goalie controversy in Washington. He entered the season as the number two guy behind Braden Holtby, with the potential to overtake him as the #1. Instead, he has been relegated to the #3 position, Philipp Grubauer has stepped into the picture and has been playing great, and Braden Holtby and Grubauer have been battling it out. Neuvirth wants out. It will be interesting to see what happens leading up to the trade deadline.
Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo was hired three years ago on a three year contract. This contract has not [yet?] been extended. The team started off great. Yeo's job was not in question. The team plummetted in the standings. Yeo's job was in question. Rumors swirled. Minnesota Wild owner seemed to have his finger on the eject button at some point earlier this week. Then the Wild won. Will Yeo still be fired? Will his contract be renewed? Will the team build off their win against Buffalo? Or will the team sink into their typical mid-to-end-year funk and continue the 2013-2014 train wreck? FIND OUT NEXT TIME ON
Lineups
Minnesota Wild
21-17-5 | 47p
101GF | 110GA
15-5-2 at Home
Last Ten: 3-7-0
Fifth place in the Central Division
Leading Scorers
Mikko Koivu
43GP | 8g | 25a | 33p | -4 | 18PIM
Jason Pominville
43GP | 18g | 11a | 29p | -1 | 10PIM
Zach Parise
37GP | 15g | 12a | 27p | +1 | 18PIM
*Currently Injured - Will Not Play*
Ryan Suter
43GP | 2g | 24a | 26p | -1 | 20PIM
*HE'S ON FIYA 11 POINTS IN LAST 11 GAMES*
Niklas Backstrom is going to start
16GS | 3-9-2 | 3.16GAA | .896SV%
Heatley - Koivu - Pominville
Zucker - Granlund - Nino
Cooke - Coyle - Bulmer
Vellieux - Brodziak - Mitchell
*Pairings subject to change*
Suter - Brodin
Scandella - Ballard
Stoner - Prosser
Backstrom
Kuemper
Washington Capitals
20-15-6 | 46p
125GF | 123GA
7-7-4 on the Road
Last Ten: 3-3-4
Second Place in the Metropolitan Division
Leading Scorers
Nicklas Backstrom
41GP | 10g | 35a | 45p | -3 | 22PIM
Alexander Ovechkin
39GP | 31g | 11a | 42p | -15 | 30PIM
Mikhail Grabovski
39GP | 11g | 19a | 30p | +4 | 10PIM
Braden Holtby might start
27GS | 13-10-2 | 3.00GAA | .915SV%
*Lineup taken from Washington GDT*
Johansson - Backstrom - Brouwer
Fehr - Grabovski - Ovechkin
Chimera - Laich - Ward
Erat - Beagle - Wilson
Orlov - Green
Alzner - Carlson
Erskine - Oleksy
Holtby
Grubbauer
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