Nov 20, 2008 - 6:26 AM
0 shoutsVancouver (11-6-2) at Minnesota (11-4-1), 8:00 p.m. EST
ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild go for their fourth straight win on Thursday when they open up a five-game homestand against the Vancouver Canucks.
Minnesota has won each of its past two games in a shootout, improving to 3-0 in the bonus format.
Marek Zidlicky scored the lone goal in the shootout and Niklas Backstrom saved all three attempts as the Wild defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins, 2-1, on Tuesday.
Backstrom has allowed two goals or less in 11 of his 15 games, including five straight. Opponents have tallied just three times against the Finnish netminder during Minnesota's winning streak.
The Canucks are coming off a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers on Wednesday.
Alex Burrows scored twice and defenseman Mattias Ohlund notched three assists in the win for Vancouver, which is 5-0-2 in its last seven contests.
The Wild went 5-2-1 against the Canucks last season. Vancouver won the first meeting, 2-0, on November 8 as goaltender Roberto Luongo made 29 saves to record his third straight shutout.
From the Bleachers
-
VANCOUVER: 3
MINNESOTA: 2
Final
Nov 20 10:26 PM -
NHL
VANCOUVER 3
MINNESOTA 2
3RD PRD: VAN - DANIEL SEDIN 8 (PAVOL DEMITRA, HENRIK SEDIN) 11:41
Nov 20 10:07 PM -
VANCOUVER: 2
MINNESOTA: 2
End of 2nd
Nov 20 9:35 PM -
NHL
VANCOUVER 2
MINNESOTA 2
2ND PRD: VAN - (PP) PAVOL DEMITRA 5 (ALEXANDER EDLER, HENRIK SEDIN)
16:10
Nov 20 9:31 PM -
NHL
VANCOUVER 1
MINNESOTA 2
2ND PRD: MIN - (SH) MIKKO KOIVU 5 (UNASSISTED) 14:22
Nov 20 9:26 PM -
NHL
VANCOUVER 1
MINNESOTA 1
2ND PRD: VAN - STEVE BERNIER 5 (KYLE WELLWOOD, WILLIE MITCHELL) 12:00
Nov 20 9:22 PM -
NHL
VANCOUVER 0
MINNESOTA 1
2ND PRD: MIN - MIKKO KOIVU 4 (ANTTI MIETTINEN, STEPHANE VEILLEUX) 7:16
Nov 20 9:13 PM -
VANCOUVER: 0
MINNESOTA: 0
End of 1st
Nov 20 8:41 PM
