1:30 p.m. vs. Vancouver at Edmonton • FSN/NHL Network, 100.3 FM
Wild-Vancouver Game 3 preview
August 6, 2020 at 3:47AM
Matinee game for series lead
Preview: After a pair of night games, the Wild and Canucks are in the matinee spotlight for a critical Game 3 at Rogers Place. Teams that win the third contest in a best-of-five after splitting the first two are 21-7 all-time in the series. So far, the side that's scored first has gone on to win each game. The special-teams battle has also been key, with both game-winning goals coming on the power play.
Players to watch: F Eric Staal leads the Wild in points (4) and assists (4). F Zach Parise has the most assists in Wild postseason history (19) after assisting on two goals in Game 2. … Canucks F Brock Boeser's goal in Game 2 was his first since Jan. 11. Aside from scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist, F Bo Horvat won 15 of 21 faceoffs Tuesday.
Numbers: Parise logged the most ice time among Wild forwards Tuesday at 19 minutes, 10 seconds. F Kevin Fiala had a game-high six shots on net in Game 2. … F Tanner Pearson's goal 24 seconds into Game 2 was the second-fastest to open a playoff game in Canucks history. … Vancouver's top two lines combined for seven points in Game 2.
Injury: Wild D Greg Pateryn (upper body) is out. Canucks F Josh Leivo (fractured kneecap) is also out. Fs Tyler Toffoli and Adam Gaudette were unfit to play in Game 2, and the Canucks said F Micheal Ferland is unfit to play for the rest of this series. Antoine Roussel didn't finish Game 2, but his availability is unclear.
Sarah McLellan
about the writer
The veteran forward was injured when hit with a shot during Thursday’s victory over Montreal.
