Canucks at Wild
THE STORY: Alain Vigneault continues to experiment with separating the Sedin twins. The Vancouver Canucks coach elected to split up the All-Star Swedes to start Tuesday's 4-3 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators. The two reunited and found magic twice during a 23-second stretch in the first period. Captain Henrik Sedin was seen in a walking boot on Wednesday, thus putting his streak of having played 552 consecutive games in jeopardy for Thursday's contest against the host Minnesota Wild.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, RSNP, FSNO
ABOUT THE CANUCKS (33-15-5): G Roberto Luongo has stopped all 90 shots in three straight shutouts against Minnesota - although those contests have taken place in British Columbia. On Dec. 19, Luongo made 33 saves in a 4-0 win over the Wild and he stopped 28 shots in a 3-0 triumph on Jan. 4. In Minnesota, however, Luongo has been pulled in each of his last three starts. C Ryan Kesler has scored a goal in four straight games and five of his last six.
ABOUT THE WILD (25-20-8): Minnesota fell for the third time in four games when it dropped a 3-1 decision to the cellar-dwelling Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday. Since Dec. 13, the Wild have collected just 15 of a possible 46 points. By comparison, the league-worst Blue Jackets have secured 16 of a possible 48. The Wild may get a boost on Thursday as captain Mikko Koivu is in line to make his return from a shoulder injury which has sidelined him since Jan. 14.
OVERTIME:
1. At 18-9-1, Vancouver is tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the most road victories this season.
2. Wild G Niklas Backstrom has dropped two meetings against the Canucks this season and is 11-11-6 in his career versus Vancouver.