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At the Break, Wild Are In It. But, For How Long After the Break?

January 27, 2011, 11:04 PM ET [ Comments]
Brad Ratgen
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Well, here we are at the All-Star break and the Wild are in the playoff hunt. I, for one, am impressed. I did not think they would fare as well before the season began. I was wrong. Or was I?

With 49 games under their belt, the Wild presently sit at 10th in the Western Conference with 55 points and a game in hand over the 7th, 8th and 9th place teams, just ahead of them, all at 56 points. No problem catching them, right? Lots of games left (33).

For me, it's been a pretty decent season for the Wild thus far, at least based upon my expectations coming into this season. However, after the break, the dream may be over. According to our friends at sportsclubstats.com, anything much less than a .500 record here on out would spell doom for the Wild's playoff hopes. In fact, their statistical analysis gives the Wild an ever so slim chance of making the playoffs if they go .500 (15-15-3) after the break; they also give the Wild no room for error if they go 14-15-4; and they indicate that if their record dips to 14-16-3, they will not make the playoffs. A record of 19-11-3 would all but guarantee their appearance in the post-season per sportsclubstats.com's stats sheet.

.500 hockey is a pretty reasonable goal, most would think. That is until you look at the meat grinder that is the Wild's schedule. Try this on for size:

February: Kings, at Avs, at Yotes, Avs, at Blues, Blues, Canucks, at Hawks, Ducks, Wings, Oilers, at Kings, at Ducks, Hawks.

March: at Islanders, at Rangers, Sabres, Avs, at Preds, at Stars, at Canucks, at Sharks, Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Blues, at Blues, Oilers.

April: Lightning, at Red Wings, at Canucks, at Oilers, Stars.

Welcome to the playoffs a few months early, eh? 17 home games and 16 road games. 10 games against Western Conference opponents currently below the Wild in the standings, 17 games against Western Conference opponents currently ahead of the Wild in the standings, 3 games against Eastern Conference opponents with less points than the Wild at the present time, and 3 Eastern Conference opponents with more points than the Wild at the present time.

Every game counts from this point forward. Not that every game didn't matter up to the present. It's just that with the log jam in the Western Conference, every point is crucial to the Wild. 96 points seems to be the goal this year. That's 41 more points in the next 33 games. 62+% to guarantee a spot in the post-season dance. However, depending on how the other teams do, a Western Conference team could qualify with as little as 87 points. Not likely, but statistically possible at the present time.

So, what's your thought Wild fans? Do they have it in them? Tough, tough schedule after the all-star break.

Also, anyone notice the two home-and-home's against the Blues? It's almost like the NHL is trying to manufacture a rivalry there dating back to the old Northstar days. I don't know why, but the Winter Classic keeps popping in my head. Could we be seeing Bettman and company pushing for a Wild-Blues Winter Classic at some point down the road?

In any event, enjoy the break. FSN showed Game 7 of the Wild-Canucks 2003 Western Conference semi-finals. Yours truly was in attendance in B.C. for that game. What a fun time. Sad to see Zholtok flying around out there. The good 'ol days, eh Wild fans?

Backstrom is my All-Star for the Wild at the break who didn't make the big game.

Go Burns. Go Havlat.

Go Wild!
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