GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (15-13) at COLUMBUS (13-15)

NHL: MINNESOTA (15-13) at COLUMBUS (13-15)

<h3>Wild look to end woes in Columbus</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (15-11-2) at Columbus (13-10-5) 7:00 pm EST</div>

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) - The Minnesota Wild look for theirfirst win in more than five years at Nationwide Arena when theyvisit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.


The Wild suffered their worst loss of the season on Friday - a5-0 setback to the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.


If they hope to snap their current two-game slide, they willhave their work cut out for them against the Blue Jackets, ateam that is 8-3-3 at home. Furthermore, Minnesota has not wonin Columbus since January 18, 2002.


The Wild, who had won four straight before scoring just one goalcombined in losses to the Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers,are just 5-6-2 on the road.


Marian Gaborik, who leads Minnesota with 10 goals and 22 points,was held scoreless for the first time in six games duringFriday's loss.


The Blue Jackets are coming off one of their best offensiveshowings - a 5-4 victory over the Colorado Avalanche onWednesday. Rick Nash, who is tied for fifth in the NHL with 18goals, found the back of the net twice in the win.

These teams have split two games this season, both in Minnesota.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL AT COLUMBUS
STARTING GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
COB - PASCAL LECLAIRE

OFFICIALS: REF - KEVIN POLLOCK, STEPHANE AUGER
LIN - LONNIE CAMERON, STEVE MILLER</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA VS COLUMBUS - SCRATCHES

MINNESOTA COLUMBUS

K CARNEY HEALTHY M MALHOTRA KNEE INJURY
B RADIVOJEVIC HEALTHY D VYBORNY BACK INJURY
M FOY HEALTHY K RUSSELL HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 0
COLUMBUS 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 0
COLUMBUS 0 14:30 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 0
COLUMBUS 0 13:24 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 0
COLUMBUS 0 10:01 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 0
1ST PRD: MIN - AARON VOROS 5 (PAVOL DEMITRA, MARIAN GABORIK) 13:51</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 1
COLUMBUS 0 0 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - AARON VOROS 5 (PAVOL DEMITRA, MARIAN GABORIK) 13:51

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 5 5
COB 6 6

GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
COB - PASCAL LECLAIRE</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 1
COLUMBUS 0 0 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - AARON VOROS 5 (PAVOL DEMITRA, MARIAN GABORIK) 13:51

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 5 5
COB 6 6

GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
COB - PASCAL LECLAIRE</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">------------------------
Minnesota 1 --1
Columbus 0 --0
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Aaron Voros 5 (Pavol Demitra,
Marian Gaborik), 13:51. Penalties: S Hill, Min (elbowing), 6:36; R
Nash, Cob (hooking), 9:42.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
Minnesota 5 --5
Columbus 6 --6
-----------------------------

Goalies : Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (6 shots, 6 saves). Columbus,
Pascal Leclaire (5 shots, 4 saves). Referees: Kevin Pollock, Stephane
Auger. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Steve Miller.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 0 19:55 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 1
2ND PRD: COB - NIKOLAI ZHERDEV 11 (JASON CHIMERA, MICHAEL PECA) 0:52</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 1 14:50 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 1 9:30 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 1 3:30 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 0 1
COLUMBUS 0 1 1 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - AARON VOROS 5 (PAVOL DEMITRA, MARIAN GABORIK) 13:51
2ND PRD: COB - NIKOLAI ZHERDEV 11 (JASON CHIMERA, MICHAEL PECA) 0:52

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 5 11 16
COB 6 11 17

GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
COB - PASCAL LECLAIRE</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 --1
Columbus 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Aaron Voros 5 (Pavol Demitra,
Marian Gaborik), 13:51. Penalties: S Hill, Min (elbowing), 6:36; R
Nash, Cob (hooking), 9:42.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Columbus, Nikolai Zherdev 11 (Jason
Chimera, Michael Peca), 0:52. Penalties: A Voros, Min (major
fighting), 8:54; J Boll, Cob (major fighting), 8:54; J Hejda, Cob
(hooking), 9:40.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Minnesota 5 11 --16
Columbus 6 11 --17
----------------------------------

Goalies : Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (17 shots, 16 saves). Columbus,
Pascal Leclaire (16 shots, 15 saves). Referees: Kevin Pollock,
Stephane Auger. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Steve Miller.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
COLUMBUS 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at COLUMBUS

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 2
COLUMBUS 1
3RD PRD: MIN - BRIAN ROLSTON 9 (KIM JOHNSSON, PIERRE-MARC BOUCHARD)
2:22</div>