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Stars in Town, Chance to Increase Lead in West |
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Wild Game Day number 57
Wild Record (37-13-6 80 pts)
Home Record (19-7-1)
Opponent: Dallas Stars (22-26-10 54 pts)
Road Record (7-17-4)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results
11/14 Wild 2 @ Stars 3 (OT)
11/28 Stars 4 @ Wild 3 (OT)
12/21 Stars 6 @ Wild 3
1/9 Wild 2 @ Stars 1
2/9 Stars 4 @ Wild 3
Playoff Series Results
Game 1 Wild 0 @Stars 4
Game 2 Wild 1 @ Stars 2
Game 3 Stars 3 @Wild 5
Game 4 Stars 3 @ Wild 2
Game 5 Wild 5 @ Stars 4 (OT)
Game 6 Stars 5 @ Wild 4
Last Result:
10/29 Stars 0 @ Wild 4
11/21 Wild 2 @ Stars 3 (OT)
1/14 Wild 5 @ Stars 4
1/24 Wild 3 @ Stars 2 (SO)
The Wild are back in action tonight as they wrap up their season series with the Dallas Stars. Minnesota has taken three of the first four from the Stars and have earned seven of the potential eight standings points from those meetings. The Wild are 2-1-1 through the first four games of their eight game home stand, following Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Ducks.
Dallas comes into tonight's game seven points out of the final playoff position in the West and time is starting to work against them. The Stars have struggled on the road all season and are completing a three game road trip that has seen them lose in Nashville (5-3) and in Winnipeg (5-2).
A lot has changed for the Stars in a year. Last year they were the surprise team vaulting from missing the playoffs to the Western Conference regular season points leader. The Stars rode their high flying offense all the way to the top, but that style rarely plays out well in the playoffs, nor does it carry much longevity.
These teams are quite familiar with each other and it is always a tough battle when the Wild and Stars meet. Not to mention the fact that the Minnesota faithful still feel that the Stars are their team and they were stolen from them. No love loss for the Stars and the Xcel will be rocking for sure.
For the Wild they will look to build on the strong effort from Tuesday night looking for a better result on the score board. The issues with the Wild are they tend to play up and down still to the level of their competition. It has not been as big an issue in the standings this season, due to the fact that the Wild are scoring more goals and have actually won more games this season in which they did not bring their A game and some that they may not have had even their B level effort.
Tonight will bring the Wild and Blackhawks even in games played, and another chance for them to stretch their lead to seven points atop the Western Conference.
With the trade deadline less than two weeks away every game is a showcase, and players are a bit on edge with the uncertainty. Chuck Fletcher has already stated that the current Wild team has earned the right to see this through. We all know really what that means is if Fletcher has the opportunity to bolster his team depth he most certainly will, but not at the risk of upsetting the chemistry of his team.
It's Always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
Let's Play Hockey!
Follow me on twitter @dwallace17
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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