vs. 
GAMETIME: 7pm
TV/RADIO: CSN, WGN Radio 720
Call of The Wild: Hockey Wilderness
Well, not much could have changed since we last saw Minnehaha. After getting slapped aside like yesterday’s ho on the West Side, the Wild did the same to the Flames at home. We always enjoy that. The Hawks meanwhile took the roving band of marauders to the Hub and left with Boston’s soul. For the WIld, the win over Calgary snapped a four game losing streak. For the Hawks, it was just another notch in the Hammer of the Gods they are currently wielding.
So, basically, everything we said applies tonight. The Hawks can’t just show up and expect two points, especially at the Xavier McDaniel Center or whatever it’s called, where the Wild are a meaty 13-6-1. They are sporting two lines, sort of, to watch for, with Mikko Koivu on the top line and Latendresse and Havlat creating havoc on the second. The third part of that line, Kyle Brodziak, had a goal and an assist against Calgary (it’s like law that Havlat will put up points against the Flames these days). On the other line, Eric Belanger had two goals, so this team is starting to click ever so slightly. No word yet on whether Harding or Backstrom will get the start, but with Backstrom having broken the losing streak I would expect to see him tonight.
As for the Hawks? What more can we add? Maybe Barker will play, maybe he won’t, and right now it doesn’t really matter. Huet should start with Niemi getting another crack at the Ducks tomorrow night. I think that’s it. Have at it. i’m sorry, I could write more on the Hawks, but we’ve said it all, haven’t we?
UPDATE: Barker won’t play, Hendry will join Catfish on the third pairing, and you probably won’t notice.