The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild will meet New Year's Eve in a game that's historic not just by NHL standards it's unprecedented in U.S. sports history.
The Blue Jackets (25-5-4) come into the game winners of 14 straight. The Wild (23-8-4) have won 12 straight.
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According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time in the history of any North American sport (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) that two teams with winning streaks of at least 12 games have met.
Wild coach Bruce Boudreau doesn't seem to think that's a big deal.
Its not the Super Bowl, its not the Stanley Cup, its game 36,Boudreau said, via .Its got a good little storyline. Thats all it is .
Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella told NHL.com it is "a good game to be involved in."
Athletes look to hang their hat on something,Tortorellatold NHL.com. And in a grind of a season, certainly not anything close to playoffs, its a good game to be involved in.
Im glad we have the opportunity.
Game time is at 6 p.m. ET (FSN) in the Wild'sXcel Energy Center. Most sports fans in America and Columbus especially will be watching another game that starts around the same time, the 7 p.m. startof No. 3 Ohio State and No. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff. But the Blue Jackets and Wild players know this hockey game is something special.
"It's fun for the League, it' s fun for the fans, it's fun for us too," Blue Jackets captainNick Folignosaid. "Just to go up against a really good team, that's the opportunity we have here, to try and get a win against a really good team. We're excited about that."
The Blue Jackets (25-5-4) come into the game winners of 14 straight. The Wild (23-8-4) have won 12 straight.
MORE:
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the first time in the history of any North American sport (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL) that two teams with winning streaks of at least 12 games have met.
Wild coach Bruce Boudreau doesn't seem to think that's a big deal.
Its not the Super Bowl, its not the Stanley Cup, its game 36,Boudreau said, via .Its got a good little storyline. Thats all it is .
Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella told NHL.com it is "a good game to be involved in."
Athletes look to hang their hat on something,Tortorellatold NHL.com. And in a grind of a season, certainly not anything close to playoffs, its a good game to be involved in.
Im glad we have the opportunity.
Game time is at 6 p.m. ET (FSN) in the Wild'sXcel Energy Center. Most sports fans in America and Columbus especially will be watching another game that starts around the same time, the 7 p.m. startof No. 3 Ohio State and No. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff. But the Blue Jackets and Wild players know this hockey game is something special.
"It's fun for the League, it' s fun for the fans, it's fun for us too," Blue Jackets captainNick Folignosaid. "Just to go up against a really good team, that's the opportunity we have here, to try and get a win against a really good team. We're excited about that."