Canucks to Start Schneider Against New Look Wild

(Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

The Vancouver Canucks will start goaltender Cory Schneider against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night ending a streak of four consecutive starts for Roberto Luongo.

The Canucks are not expected to make any other changes to their lineup, but we may see new line combinations. The Canucks finished with the following line combinations on Monday against the Edmonton Oilers:

Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Alexandre Burrows
Mason Raymond – Jordan Schroeder – Jannik Hansen
Chris Higgins – Maxim Lapierre – Zack Kassian
Aaron Volpatti – Manny Malhotra – Dale Weise

Dan Hamhuis – Alexander Edler
Jason Garrison – Kevin Bieksa
Keith Ballard – Chris Tanev

The Wild will be icing a different lineup last night as head coach Mike Yeo plans to split up the top line of Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, and Dany Heatley. Heatley will drop down to the second line while rookie Charlie Coyle will be promoted to the top line.

Goaltender Niklas Backstrom will start for the Wild and recently acquired left winger Mike Rupp will also make his debut against the Canucks.

Zach Parise – Mikko Koivu – Charlie Coyle
Pierre-Marc Bouchard – Matt Cullen – Dany Heatley
Devin Setoguchi – Kyle Brodziak – Cal Clutterbuck
Mike Rupp – Zenon Konopka – Torrey Mitchell

Ryan Suter – Jonas Brodin
Tom Gilbert – Clayton Stoner
Marco Scandella – Justin Falk