The San Jose Sharks (5-3-1) come to the Mid-West and face off with the Minnesota Wild (4-4-2) at the “X” tonight at 7pm CT on Versus. The Wild look to break traditions yet again and go against a team where in the last 4 years have had the Wild’s number. The Sharks have won 13 of 16 games (both home and away) vs. the Wild and sweeping the season series last year. One thing that should help is that the Sharks number one Wild killer is no longer between the pipes. Evgeni Nabokov had a 12-0-1 record against the Wild but signed with the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg this summer.
The Sharks come into the game with a 3.22 GG and 2.78 GAA. They are 31.8 % on the power play taking the top spot in the league from the Wild, while killing 84.9% of penalties. San Jose is averaging 35 shots on goal per game and winning 56% of all face offs too.
This should be a good test for the Wild after shutting down the Capitals and holding the Stanley Cup Champions to 2 goals (3rd was an open net) as they go against in my opinion the best line in the league. Joe Thorton (15 points) centers the top line for the Sharks with Danny Heatley (13) and Patrick Marleau (11) and as a team put up 20 goals in the last 4 games. Antero Niittymaki gets the call between the pipes with a 1.88 GAA and .929 save % on the season.
The Wild are looking to keep the momentum going of playing 2 solid games in a row. Prior to the Capitals and Blackhawks games you didn’t know what Wild team you were going to see show up on the ice. They have been both dominate and out classed, in their previous 8 games they lead the league with a total of 57 penalties averaging 7 per game but in the last 2 games only committing 4.
The Wild come into the game with a 2.60 GG and 2.50 GAA. They are now 2nd to the Sharks on the power play going 30.2% after being shut down in 3 games so far without scoring a PP goal. They have a 84.9% penalty kill rate, are putting up an average of 25 shots on goal, and winning 52% of the their face offs.
Coach Richards said that Niklas Backstrom played his best game since he came to town against Chicago and will get the start in net tonight. Backstrom has a 2.08 GAA and .929 save % but is still looking for his first shutout since Richards took over, his last being in April of 2009.
The Wild will need big games out of their top performers in Koivu and Cullen to stay in the game, along with another great performance by Brent Burns to shut down the Sharks top line like against Washington. Koivu is leading the team in points with 11 and has recorded a point in each game so far but one. Cullen has 10 points thus far and is the Wild’s utility guy playing in every aspect of their game from 5-5, point man on the power play, and one of the main penalty killers.
The big key to the game will need to be Martin Havlat, after some comments from Havlat’s agent last week for not being used properly the team will need a big game from him. Latendresse is day to day with a groin injury so the importance of Havlat stepping up in a big game like this is critical for the team to keep the momentum. The problem with Havlat is that when the team has committed so many penalties he has had less ice time not playing on the PK. If the team can stay out of the box and get him as much ice time as they can could mean a big win for the Wild.
Notes: The Wild have six players with 6 points each in Latendresse, Burns, Brunette, Zidlicky, Miettinen, and Havlat. Cal Clutterbuck who has led the league in hits is currently in 3rd with 43. Matt Cullen is celebrating his 34th birthday today at home. Cam Barker is returning to the ice after missing multiple games with a groin injury. Latendresse is day to day with a groin injury. Miettinen is still out with a concussion from a hit to the head playing the Kings. The Sharks are 3-1 on the road this year and have won 4 of their last 5 games.
Thanks for reading today and hope this will be a great game between the two teams. Like always I am looking for feedback on my blog so if you have an opinion let me know and you can follow me on twitter at @josh_sargent.
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