Per the Minneapolis Star Tribune staff (Russo, et al.), Ryan Suter did not skate in Friday's practice after being injured the night before in the Wild's game against St. Louis. Additionally, he did not skate in the morning skate today for the Wild, leading one blogger to believe that he may well be out tonight. However, as Russo reported, the Wild coaching staff is not saying and, as such, it will be a game time decision. With Suter out, however, he will be the 4th Wild player of significance to be out and, perhaps, all at the same time.

First it was Harding who was sidelined with M.S. symptoms due to medication issues since February 12th. Then, Cullen went out on April 1st, indefinitely, with a lower body injury. Then, in the next game, Heatley went out on April 4th and has now has shoulder surgery and is out the rest of the season and most likely all of the playoffs. Now Suter falls to the injury bug two days ago against St. Louis.

As a Wild fan, you just knew it was coming. The season, up to this point, was too good to be true (in the context of the last few years). The Wild fell apart last year when Koivu went down. It appears the same is beginning to happen this season. However, the difference may be that the Wild is now a deeper team and, on Friday, called up Jason Zucker from the Wild's AHL affiliate, the Houston Aeros. A move that alot of Wild fans felt was long overdue.

And so, the Minnesota Wild attempt their push for the playoffs tonight against the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets who, last night, crushed the St. Louis Blues, 4-1 and, before that, on April 9th, crushed the San Jose Sharks, 4-0, all just after the Wild took it to the Blue Jackets on April 7th, beating them 3-0 in Columubs. To the Blue Jackets' credit, they have a good home record (13-5-5), similar to the Wild's (13-6-1). However, their road record absolutely stinks (5-11-2). As such, they find themselves still alive and fighting for the playoff lives.

However, to keep everything in perspective, sportsclubstats.com still has the Wild at 90% likely to make the playoffs, down 2.1% based on other teams outside of the playoffs recently winning during the Wild's off day yesterday. Columbus only is listed as having an 11% chance of qualifying for the post-season, up 3.7% based on their win last night. In fact, they rate the Phoenix Coyotes and the Dallas Stars as having a better shot at making the playoffs than the Blue Jackets. They have Phoenix's odds at 16.6% and Dallas at 32.3%. All 3 teams (Columbus, Phoenix and Dallas) are chasing Detroit for the last spot in the post-season. Detroit is listed as having a 55.3% chance of making the playoffs. The Wild at 90% are behind San Jose which is listed at 95.2%. So, the Wild still are in the driver's seat and tonight's game is definitely a "must win" for the Blue Jackets and less so for the Wild.

From the Jackets' perspective, tonight is the first of 6 road games taking them from Minnesota to Colorado (out) to Anaheim (in), L.A. (99.2%), San Jose (95.2%) and Dallas (32.3%) before they end the season at home against the Predators (0%, but not "out" yet). Ouch!

The Wild end a 3 game home stand tonight and then take to the road to play at Calgary (0%, but not "out") on Monday, at Edmonton (2.3%) on Tuesday and at San Jose (95.2%)on Thursday before returning home for another 3 game home stand against Calgary (0%, but not "out"), L.A. (99.2%) and Edmonton (2.3%) before ending the season on the road in Colorado (out).

The Star Tribune is reporting the Wild's forward lines tonight to be as follows:

Parise-Koivu-Coyle
Setoguchi-Granlund-Zucker
Bouchard-Brodziak-Pominville
Rupp-Mitchell-Clutterbuck

While tonight's game is not what I would classify as a "must win" game for the Wild, you can sense a thread of panic setting in. 3 solid players out and 1 superstar potentially out; taking Pominville of the first line and putting him on the third line and replacing him with Charlie Coyle who had played 1st line right wing prior to the Wild trading for Pominville; having Granlund center the 2nd line; and putting Clutterbuck on the 4th line. Anyone else feel like this is a bit of a knee jerk reaction by the Wild? Certainly, it makes them a deeper team to play against with quality players on each line.

Lastly, I feel these injuries and problems the Wild have been experiencing with their defensemen is actually a positive thing for this team to be going through right now. On the blue line, it puts a spotlight on what needs to be addressed during the offseason. At forward, it forces Yeo and the coaching staff to, perhaps, focus on a different, more defensive model of play ala Jacques Lemaire which, I feel, if implemented by the coaching staff and executed by this squad, will result in the Wild achieving the feat of upsetting a team or two in the post-season.

So the push for the playoffs continues tonight for the Minnesota Wild. Don't be surprised if tons of fans start losing their minds if the Wild lose tonight. Just don't be one of them (yet).

UPDATE: Of all 15 teams in the Western Conference, the Wild have the easiest remaining schedule. The NHL calculates their strength of remaining schedule at .495; Detroit's is .521; Dallas' is .622; Phoenix's is .615; Columbus' is .556; and Edmonton's is .610.

Also, since March 25th, only one team not currently in the top 8 in the Western Conference has occupied a top 8 position. Guesses? Edmonton was 8th in the West only April 2nd and by April 3rd, they were 9th.

Join the Discussion: » 25 Comments » Post New Comment

» Post-Season and Player/Position Thoughts (Koivu Must Go?)

» We've Been Here Before Haven't We?

» Everything Going According to Script. Only Question, Which Script?

» Wild Proves They Can Play With The Best. Now It's Time to Beat the Best.

» Enough About the Refs. We Ain't Dead Yet. Remember 2003!