Gameday: Theodore Expected to Debut

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The Minnesota Wild is expected to utilize the 11th goaltender in franchise history tonight when Jose Theodore makes his first-ever start for his new team. The 2002 NHL MVP, who signed with Minnesota while the team was in Finland, has served as Niklas Backstrom’s number two in every game since the Wild returned to North America. In his career against the Vancouver Canucks, Theodore is 11-10-3 with a 2.72 goals against average and a .906 save percentage.

Backstrom earned the night off after a sterling performance in Edmonton last night. He stopped 34 of 36 shots as the Wild won its first true road game over the Oilers, 4-2. Kyle Brodziak notched his first two goals of the season, and Guillaume Latendresse chipped in with a goal and an assist. Brent Burns finished up the scoring with a length of the ice bank shot off the glass into an empty net. His third goal in six games equals his entire output from last year.

The Canucks have had a rough week, which upsets nobody in the State of Hockey. It started on Tuesday when the Wild torched Roberto Luongo for six goals in two periods on the way to a 6-2 triumph. Of course, the result was overshadowed by Nucks bruiser Rick Rypien, who grabbed a Wild fan after shoving a linesman while being escorted to the bench. Rypien has been suspended six games after meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman today.

The Canucks dropped another contest on Wednesday, but did pick up a point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Luongo rebounded to stop 31 of 32 shots, while Daniel Sedin scored the only goal.