GAMEDAY: Wild at Canucks

Josh Harding will not be in the Minnesota Wild lineup tonight against the Vancouver Canucks because he has been feeling a bit off, due to a new medication in his treatment of multiple sclerosis. The Wild netminder knew that this was a possibility when he was diagnosed with MS in the fall, and both he and the organization are working together to overcome the disease.   

With Harding out, the Wild has recalled goaltender Darcy Kuemper from the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. To make a roster spot for Kuemper, the Wild reassigned defenseman Marco Scandella to the Houston. The 22-year-old netminder is 10-6-0 with a 1.79 goals-against average, a .938 save percentage and four shutouts in 16 games for Houston this season.

Kuemper took shots at the Wild’s morning skate, but no word on if he would be making his NHL debut tonight or backing up Niklas Backstrom, who was outstanding last night against Calgary and has started the Wild’s last eight games.

UPDATED: Darcy Kuemper will start in goal for the Wild tonight.

Bringing up Kuepmer was not the team’s only move of the day. Jared Spurgeon participated in the team’s morning and said that he feels ready. The Wild removed him off of Injured Reserve and will likely be in tonight. In order to make room on its roster, the Wild placed forward Matt Kassian on waivers.  

Minnesota Head Coach Mike Yeo deemed this morning’s skate optional, so we won’t know of any other changes in the lineup until he addresses the media at 5 p.m. PST. Yeo has not named a starting goaltender at this time.

Fresh from its first road win on the season, the Minnesota Wild will close out a quick road swing on back-to-back nights, as the Wild takes on the Vancouver Canucks. This is the second time the two clubs have met this year, the first affair still fresh in Minnesota’s mind, a 4-1 Canucks win at Xcel Energy Center one week ago.

The Wild pulled out a road shootout win against the Calgary Flames last night, 2-1. Kyle Brodziak scored Minnesota’s lone regulation goal, his first of the season. Brodziak took a pass from Devin Setoguchi and made a nifty move around Flames’ goaltender Leland Irving. Ryan Suter also picked up an assist on the goal. In the shootout, Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu made similar forehand-backhand-forehand moves to score, while Niklas Backstrom stopped two-of-three Calgary shooters for the win. During regulation and overtime, Backstrom stopped 23-of-24 shots in the winning effort.

The Canucks’ last outing was a 5-1 home win against the Flames. Rookie Jordan Schroeder led the way scoring twice for the first two goals of his career. Alexandre Burrows, Kevin Bieksa and Chris Higgins also scored for Vancouver. Cory Schneider made 33 saves in the win.