The Canucks hope to run wild on Minnesota
Posted March 26, 2014 12:50 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
MINNESOTA (NEWS1130) – The Canucks try to keep their playoff hopes alive as they visit the Minnesota Wild tonight. The Canucks enter the game six points back of Phoenix for the last wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
Head Coach John Tortorella knows the Canucks are entering crunch time.
“We are down to such few games left that you have to take care of business. Obviously, there is not a lot of room for error. We have to just take it one game at a time and make sure we take care of our business.”
The Canucks will be trying to end a losing streak against the Wild. Minnesota has won two shootout games against the Canucks this season, and four games in a row overall. Tortorella says he has prepared the team for a tougher schedule down the stretch.
“We are going to play against stiffer competition these two games here. I think the most important thing for us is to come in to these games with the right kind of arrogance. I think you have to make a stand and not see how the game is going to be played, but dictate the way it is going to be played as we go through the next couple weeks.”
The Canucks will not have their captain for the game. Henrik Sedin did not join the team on the trip as he deals with a lower body injury. He is expected to miss at least two weeks. Tortorella admits Sedin just can’t catch a break this season.
“You can see his game coming along. There is nothing you can do about it. It was kind of a freak little thing that happened to him and that is the way it has gone. You just move on a get ready to play the game.”
The Canucks are 2-6 when Sedin is not in the lineup this season. Shawn Matthias will take Sedin’s spot on the top line, playing alongside Daniel Sedin and Nicklas Jensen.
Alex Burrows will play this evening. He missed last game with a hand injury.
Eddie Lack gets the start in net for the Canucks.
Minnesota enters the game seventh in the Western Conference, but the team hasn’t played well recently, having only won three of its last ten games.
Puck drop is at 4:30 p.m. and you can watch the game on Sportsnet Pacific.
