Wild vs. Canadiens game preview: Broadcast info, injuries and analysis
Sarah McLellan's analysis: Kirill Kaprizov will get extra shifts in the absence of Matt Boldy. And now defenseman Alex Goligoski is sidelined, too.
October 17, 2023 at 4:02PM
6 p.m. Tuesday vs. Montreal at Bell Centre
TV; radio: BSN; 100.3 FM
Stats and analytics: Tap here.
Today's line: Wild -152.
Pregame reading: Marc-Andre Fleury of the Wild is a family man on the road to the Hall of Fame.
For the fans: Jonas Brodin is one game shy of 744, which will rank as the third-most played in Wild history.
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Sarah McLellan's preview:
Opening bell: The Wild's season isn't even a week old, and already the team's manpower is being tested. RW Matt Boldy was injured in the 7-4 loss at Toronto on Saturday and there are no extra forwards on the road trip. On Tuesday morning, the team announced defenseman Alex Goligoski will miss tonight's game after a practice injury. D Dakota Mermis will make his season debut. In practice Monday, the Wild split up their two best defenders, putting Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin on separate pairings.
Watch him: Wild G Marc-Andre Fleury is scheduled to make his season debut in what should be a sentimental start. Not only did Fleury grow up an hour outside Montreal, but this could be his last NHL game at Bell Centre and a win would move him seven away from passing Patrick Roy for the second most in NHL history.
Injuries: Wild RW Matt Boldy (upper body), D Alex Goligoski (lower body) and D Jared Spurgeon (upper body); Canadiens C Kirby Dach (lower body), C Christian Dvorak (knee) and D Chris Wideman (back).
Forecast: Although the Wild will be playing down one forward, that shouldn't stop them from having a bounce-back performance. The Canadiens are coming off their first win, but they're a young, rebuilding lineup; a veteran team such as the Wild can capitalize on that by establishing their style of play and sticking to it. Add in the fact LW Kirill Kaprizov is likely to get extra shifts, and the Wild could easily return home with momentum.
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Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record.
