Wild-Vancouver game preview
February 19, 2020 at 5:35AM
Looking to end slump on road trip
Preview: The Wild will play its first road games under interim head coach Dean Evason, a two-game trip to Vancouver on Wednesday and Edmonton on Friday. It has lost its past two games — San Jose in regulation and to the Rangers in a shootout — and has won only once in its past four. The Canucks and Wild have split a pair of games this season at Xcel Energy Center, with Vancouver winning 4-1 in January and the Wild taking a 4-2 victory two weeks ago.
Players to watch: Wild F Jordan Greenway has four points in his past five games, and he is one short of tying the 24 points he had as a rookie last season. F Tyler Toffoli is expected to make his debut with the Canucks after being acquired Monday in a trade with Los Angeles. Toffoli has 18 goals and 16 assists in 58 games.
Numbers: The Wild has scored 15 power-play goals on 39 chances in its past 13 games (38.5%). That's the most power-play goals and highest power-play percentage in the NHL during that span, which began Jan. 14. … Canucks D Quinn Hughes leads NHL rookies in points (45), assists (37) and ice time (21 minutes, 41 seconds per game).
Injuries: Vancouver F Brock Boeser (rib-cartilage fracture), F Micheal Ferland (concussion-like symptoms), F Josh Leivo (fractured kneecap) and F Tyler Graovac (lower-body injury) are out; F Tyler Motte (shoulder) is day-to-day.
RACHEL BLOUNT
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After letting 135-footer bounce in early, Fleury steadied himself in 5-3 victory.
