The Canucks haven't had much luck playing the Wild in Minnesota. In fact last time they did it was the Wild getting the upper hand, winning 4-0. Especially with Niklas Backstrom being on fire since his return from injury on January 19th, going 5-2-0 with a 1.42 GAA, .957 S%, and 2 SO. However, the Canucks have been money this year in the second game of back-to-backs, and they improved that record to 7-1-2.
Manny Malhotra looked great all night, and was all over the place, nothing new there though. He scored the first goal just over 5 minutes in on the PP redirecting a Salo slap shot off a clean faceoff win. Then he pushed Spurgeon off the puck in the corner and was able to find Hansen in front in the second which was the eventual game winner. Kesler kept up his scoring, with a goal, albeit an empty-netter, but short-handed nonetheless. He also hit Sammy in front to put them up 3-1. The man is on a tear right now.
Clutterbuck scored the lone Wild goal on the PP, but showed his true colors by butt-ending Henrik late in the third. Classy move Cal, almost as classy as that chick wearing the Leopard fur coat behind the Minnesota bench. She looked like she should have been an extra in that bar scene in Goodfellas when Pesci stabbed that dude with a pen.
Also Schneider was very solid in net (and is also sporting a sweet neck-beard), stopping 28 of 29 shots, getting just peppered in the third, with 13 saves! Geez what happened to the defense...oh yeah they are all hurt! In addition to Hamhuis and Ballard, Alberts broke his wrist last night. It was a little worrisome having Sauve in his first game, and Salo fresh off a major injury, but everybody stepped up. That being said I held my breathe when Bieksa took one off the shin halfway through the first. But this is what good teams do, they overcome injuries.
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