Game Day Notepad: Division lead up for grabs when Canucks host Wild

The Vancouver Canucks (13-8-6) will try to get back on the winning track and reclaim top spot in the Northwest Division tonight when they host the Minnesota Wild (15-10-2) at Rogers Arena.

Read the entire Tale of the Tape preview exclusively at Canucks.com.

• The Canucks saw their modest two-game win streak come to an end on Saturday with their 5-2 loss to the Red Wings. They also fell to 1-1-0 on their current four-game home stand.
• Since getting off to a 5-1-1 start on home ice this season, the Canucks have just two wins in their last seven games (2-3-2) at Rogers Arena.
• The Wild are playing the second game of a three-game road swing tonight. They began the trip with a 6-4 win in Colorado on Saturday.
• Minnesota has two won straight games – both against Colorado - coming into tonight's contest and four of their last five overall. They're looking to string together three straight wins for the first time this season.
• The Canucks and Wild will meet for the fourth and final time this season tonight. Vancouver currently leads the season series with two wins to just one for Minnesota although the Wild could even up the series with a regulation victory.
• The Wild were 4-2 victors the last time these teams met eight nights ago at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota took over top spot in the Northwest Division with that win and that's where they find themselves tonight. The teams are tied with 32 points each in the standings but Minnesota holds the tiebreaker with more regulation/overtime wins.
• The Canucks did not practice yesterday so lineup news won't be available at least until after the game day skate. However, they are expected to be without F David Booth who suffered an ankle injury in the loss to Detroit on Saturday. F Zack Kassian is also a question mark after sitting out the game against the Red Wings with a back injury. If Kassian can't go, the Canucks will likely need to summon someone from the farm to fill the hole at the forward position.
• The expected goaltending match-up will be Cory Schneider going up against Niklas Backstrom. Schneider has started two of the three games against the Wild this season so far posting a 1-1-0 record with a 2.55 GAA and .909 save percentage. Backstrom has posted an identical record versus Vancouver this season with a 3.61 GAA and a .860 save percentage.
• The Canucks will be looking to extend their 11-game home ice win streak against the Wild which dates all the way back to March 3, 2009. Overall, the Canucks have earned points in their last 13 straight home games against the Wild (12-0-1). They haven't dropped a regulation decision on home ice to Minnesota since March 21, 2008.
• Canucks F Mason Raymond (1-2-3), along with Wild F Zach Parise (2-1-3) and F Matt Cullen (0-3-3) all share the lead in the season series with three points each.
• This will be the final time in regular season play that the Canucks and Wild face one another as divisional foes. Next season, as part of the NHL's realignment plan, they will continue to be in the same Conference but will no longer be part of the same division.
• Canucks D Alex Edler recorded his 200th career point with an assist in Saturday's loss to Detroit. D Kevin Bieksa is just two points shy of reaching that same career milestone. F David Booth is one point away from reaching that mark as well although his pursuit of that goal would appear to be on hold indefinitely.

FOLLOW THE GAME

Tonight's game faces off at 7 pm PT and can be seen on Sportsnet Pacific. Listen live on The TEAM 1040 Sports Radio or online at teamradio.ca.

Those away from a TV or radio can follow @CanucksGame on Twitter for live in-game play-by-play.