Happy Friday afternoon to you all. Stensaas in for Russo today, about set for some afternoon hockey. I hope everyone had a good, safe and happy Thanksgiving. My father came to town for the holiday, and today is sitting in Sec. 229 taking in his first NHL game live since the North Stars played here. Our family used to come to Bloomington from Southern Wisconsin about once a year for North Stars games. Watching the game today will be a little different for Dad, I bet. I’ll be anxious to hear what he thinks of the league now compared to the 1980s.

By the way, he’s hoping for “a few skirmishes” today

Obviously Wes Walz is a big story today. He makes his return to the X as an assistant coach for the Lightning. I was downstairs a little while ago, and a passerby the Lightning locker room saw Walz and remarked: “Hey, there’s the Mayor of Xcel Energy Center!”

Walz’s son will help do the “Let’s Play Hockey” call today at the X. There will be a video tribute to Walz.

For the Wild, Colton Gillies and Craig Weller are again scratched. Marek Malik and former Shattuck-St. Mary’s player Matt Smaby are scratched for Tampa Bay. Smaby, who played in 14 games last season, was just called up to the team yesterday.

The arena’s starting to buzz. Apparently not too many Wild fans gorged on turkey yesterday or were up early today for all those great sales.

I’ll be back after the game.

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