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Wild Chance to Sweep NYC Trip As Trade Deadline Approaches |
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Wild Game Day number 61
Wild Record (33-20-7 73 pts)
Road Record (13-15-1)
Opponent: New York Rangers (27-29-5 59 pts)
Home Record (18-11-3)
Site: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Time: 6:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results:
12/23 Wild 7 @ Rangers 4
3/18 Rangers 3 @ Wild 2
Last result:
2/13 Rangers 2 @ Wild 3
The Wild have a chance to take 6 of 6 points from their three game NYC/Metro road trip tonight when they wrap up their Eastern Conference road season against the Rangers.
Last night's come from behind 4-2 victory in New Jersey showed a lot of character from the Wild. Alex Stalock was strong in the Wild net. He had to be as the Devils unleashed 18 first period shots, on the aid of three New Jersey powerplays.
With the Wild having to kill so often in the first there was little chance to get the lines rolling, and the penalty killers being overused took a toll on the Wild legs. The only line that had any jump in the first period was the fourth line of Joel Eriksson Ek, Daniel Winnik, and Chris Stewart who was playing in just his 2nd game in the last 8.
That line had jump all night and once the Wild settled in and stopped taking penalties, they were able to see their regular shift. Mike Reilly, who himself had been a healthy scratch the last four games, got the Wild on the board, just after their first powerplay had ended. Joel Eriksson Ek, who had ended a personal 50 game goalless drought Monday in Brooklyn, got his 3rd of the season and second in two games to draw the Wild back to even at 2-2.
But the Wild fourth line was not done as Chris Stewart gave them the lead just 39 seconds after Eriksson Ek had scored. Stewart's goal was momentous in that Nick Seeler drew the assist for his first NHL point. Daniel Winnik although he did not get a point on the Stewart goal, really made the play that sprung Stewart out of the Wild zone. Winnik fired out to the point to check Andy Greene who had just stepped on the ice, creating the loose puck that Stewart retrieved in full flight heading down the left wing.
Stewart's goal was a microcosm of how that line played all night, with each man pulling in the same direction and supporting his linemates. As Stewart broke out of the zone, Joel Eriksson Ek turned on the jets to catch up with Stewart to create a 2 on 1, which allowed Stewart to open Devils goalie, Eddie Lack, up and fire the wrister threw the five hole for his 9th of the season.
The confidence that Eriksson Ek had been showing over much of the last month is finally showing up on the scoreboard and it could not come at a better time for the Wild either.
Tonight the Wild get a Rangers team that had to travel while technically the Wild did not. New York has gone into rebuild mode and last night both Rick Nash and Michael Grabner were scratched in anticipation of deals to come.
Grabner was dealt to the Devils, for defenseman, Yegor Rykov and a 2018 2nd round pick. It remains to be seen whether or not Nash is moved prior to tonight's game or if he is a scratch once again.
Either way the Wild cannot take the Rangers for granted either. Youth has a way of playing with a no fear attitude with nothing to lose mentality. Jobs are on the line and players are always looking for opportunities to make a name for themselves on the big stage.
Devan Dubnyk will be back between the pipes for the Wild.
Not sure how Boudreau does not keep the lineup the same as last night, but no word on that yet. Given that the two players that drew back into the lineup both scored big goals last night it is hard to argue not keeping both in the lineup. But Olofsson and Stewart were on the ice working late with Stalock this morning according to Star Tribune's Sarah McLellan, so possible that Foligno gets back in tonight.
Wild projected lines: (for you Gump;)
Zucker-Koivu-Granlund
Ennis-Staal-Niederreiter
Parise-Cullen-Coyle
Winnik-Eriksson Ek-Foligno
Suter-Dumba
Seeler-Spurgeon
Reilly-Prosser
Dubnyk
Stalock
A three game road trip sweep would go a long way in strengthening the Wild's playoff chances, not to mention their confidence as they head into the season's final quarter.
Trade talk is quiet but the fact that Canadien's GM, Marc Bergevin and assistant GM, Scott Mellanby were again in attendance last night, leads to speculation that something is brewing. Max Pacioretty or Alex Galchenyuk are the obvious names being bandied about, with Charlie Coyle most mentioned from the Wild side. Pacioretty instantly changes the dynamic of the Wild giving them a true goal scoring threat, that they so desperately need.
Fletcher has said that he will be working, and has made the comments that the Wild cap situation will be better this summer. Not sure what we can read into that, but the latter part leads one to believe he has something planned to move salary, because Jason Zucker and Matt Dumba will need to be paid this summer.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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