Canucks and Wild Prepare for Saturday Night Clash: Projected Lineups and Game Preview
The Vancouver Canucks are set to face off against the Minnesota Wild tonight at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT. Here's a look at the projected lineups and what to expect from this matchup.
Vancouver Canucks (6-6-0)
The Canucks are coming off a 4-3 shootout victory over the St. Louis Blues. However, they've been dealing with a number of injuries. Several players are currently sidelined, including key defenseman Quinn Hughes.
Here’s the projected lineup for the Canucks:
- Forwards: Jake DeBrusk - Elias Pettersson - Brock Boeser, Evander Kane - Lukas Reichel - Kiefer Sherwood, Drew O'Connor - Aatu Raty - Mackenzie MacEachern, Arshdeep Bains - Max Sasson - Linus Karlsson
- Defense: Marcus Pettersson - Filip Hronek, Elias Pettersson - Tom Willander, P.O. Joseph - Tyler Myers
- Goalies: Thatcher Demko, Kevin Lankinen
Kiefer Sherwood is currently leading the Canucks in goals with nine. Kevin Lankinen is expected to start in goal, though Thatcher Demko has been performing well this season with a 2.18 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. Brock Boeser is expected to play after recently suffering an injury.
Minnesota Wild (3-6-3)
The Wild are currently on a five-game losing streak, and are looking to turn things around on home ice. In their last game, they suffered a 4-1 defeat against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Here’s the projected lineup for the Wild:
- Forwards: Kirill Kaprizov - Marco Rossi - Marcus Johansson, Vladimir Tarasenko - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy, Marcus Foligno - Ryan Hartman - Vinnie Hinostroza, Yakov Trenin - Ben Jones - Tyler Pitlick
- Defense: Jonas Brodin - Brock Faber, Jake Middleton - Jared Spurgeon, Zeev Buium - David Jiříček
- Goalies: Filip Gustavsson, Jesper Wallstedt
Kirill Kaprizov leads the team in points with 16. Filip Gustavsson is the likely starter in goal, though he is looking to improve his 3.37 goals-against average and .892 save percentage.
Keys to the Game
- Canucks: The Canucks need to capitalize on their scoring chances and maintain defensive stability despite key injuries. Goaltending will be crucial, and they'll need another strong performance from either Demko or Lankinen.
- Wild: The Wild need to address their defensive lapses and get more consistent goaltending. They need to find ways to generate more offense beyond Kaprizov and improve their penalty kill.
Betting Odds and Predictions
The Over/Under for the game is set at 5.5 goals. One prediction suggests the Wild will win 4-3. The Wild have won 8 of the last 10 head-to-head encounters with the Canucks.
Where to Watch/Listen
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+, FDSNWIX, FDSNNO, and SN360. Radio coverage will be available on Sportsnet 650 AM (Vancouver) and KFAN 100.3 FM (Minnesota).
