#MTLHockey Preview
Match Up
The Canadiens (17-7-2) are in Minnesota Wednesday night to face the Wild (13-9-1) at the Xcel Energy Center. The game is set to start at 7:00 and airs on RDS and Sportsnet.
This is the second and final meeting between the Habs and Wild this season. The Canadiens scored a convincing 4-1 win when these teams met the first time this year. Lars Eller and Jiri Sekac each had a goal and an assist in the game while Brandon Prust picked up a pair of helpers.
What to Watch
Max Pacioretty picked up his team best 12th goal and 20th point of the year on Monday in Colorado, the 26-year old is now sixth in the league in goals scored.
Ex-Hab Thomas Vanek, has just two goals so far this season although with 12 assists, including one against the Canadiens earlier in the year, he does hold a share of the team lead in that department. Zach Parise leads the Wild in points with 18, but with 11 goals, it's Nino Niederreiter that leads Minnesota in that department.
What's at Stake
The Canadiens have relinquished the NHL lead after the Tampa Bay lightning lost in overtime to the Sabres Tuesday night. They are now 1 point behind their division rivals with a chance to leap-frog them by winning in Minnesota on Wednesday.
Who's Out
The Canadiens are missing Michael Bournival (shoulder) who is traveling with the team but not expected to play during this road trip.
The Wild are missing Matt Cooke (hip). The team's top defenseman, Ryan Suter, missed practice Tuesday with an illness, but is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday night.
What Else
The Canadiens lost perhaps their greatest ambassador late Tuesday night. Jean Beliveau, 10 time Stanley Cup winner, 14 time NHL All Star, two time Hart Trophy winner, Art Ross and Conn Smythe winner, Hall-of-Famer, and one of the most recognizable figures in hockey, passed away at age 83. He played his entire NHL career from, 1950 to 1971, with the Montreal Canadiens and was a constant presence at the Montreal Forum and the Bell Centre since his retirement.
The Canadiens have set up a page on their official website to share tributes to Le Gros Bill, it can be found here.
The Question Mark
In four words, what did Jean Beliveau mean to you?
Tonight's Show
Join myself, Rob Elbaz, along with Kosta Papoulias and Corey Collard for the Montreal Hockey Talk Pregame Show as we go live at 6:00 to preview the Canadiens and the Wild.
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