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Minnesota Wild Blogger •
The Minnesota Wild are in the midst of their last muti-game road trip of the season, and perhaps the most important. Saturday, the Wild take on the Northwest Division leading Calgary Flames at the Saddledome, a venue that has proven most difficult for the Wild.
The Wild have not won at the Saddledome in over two years! Their last win in Calgary came on March 17, 2007. To add insult to injury, the Wild have only won three times in their last twenty-four games in Calgary. Clearly, the odds do not seem to favor the Wild in tonight's match. However, just like the Islanders proved last night, each game is an Island unto itself, without regard to past history and/or statistics.
Tonight could as well be a playoff game for both teams. The Wild are chasing to keep up in the race for the final two playoff spots in the West while the Flames are hanging on by a thread to their lead in the Northwest Division which they hold only by a single point now and are being chased down by the surging Vancouver Canucks.
Tomorrow night, the Wild take on the Edmonton Oilers and will be another playoff-like game as both the Wild and the Oilers are fighting for their playoff lives.
The question for tonight is whether or not this is a "must win" game for the Wild? Statistically speaking, probably not. A loss would not bar the Wild from garnering a playoff spot. However, with each loss, a whole lot more has to go in their favor in games in which they have no control over. A win tonight, on the other hand, could set the tone for the Wild's remaining games. The momentum they would gain from winning at the Saddledome would almost certainly carry over to tomorrow night's game in Edmonton and would probably be more momentum than what the Oilers are bringing back home after a huge win in Anaheim on Friday night. However, a loss in Calgary could have the exact opposite effect and could well lead to another loss Sunday night in Edmonton.
The Wild have little room for error at this point in the season. They need to grab approximately 11 points in their last 8 games. That leaves room for 3 losses, 1 in overtime and 2 in regulation. It also means they have to win 5 games. Winning 2 this weekend would make winning 3 more in their last 6 a whole lot easier.
After this weekend in Alberta, the Wild have Vancouver (home), Calgary (home), Detroit (away) Dallas (home), Nashville (home) and Columbus (away). The home cooking would taste a whole lot better with a little cushion.
Either way, the beginning of the end starts for the Wild the next 2 days in Alberta. Go Wild!!!!!!!
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Losing in Calgary now makes this game and all remaining games MUST WIN games while our playoff race competitors are now playing MUST LOSE games. That is what this season has come down to for Wild fans. While not over optomistic, for some strange reason I still have a feeling of hope and I'm not sure why. We'll see soon enough.
The Wild have not won at the Saddledome in over two years! Their last win in Calgary came on March 17, 2007. To add insult to injury, the Wild have only won three times in their last twenty-four games in Calgary. Clearly, the odds do not seem to favor the Wild in tonight's match. However, just like the Islanders proved last night, each game is an Island unto itself, without regard to past history and/or statistics.
Tonight could as well be a playoff game for both teams. The Wild are chasing to keep up in the race for the final two playoff spots in the West while the Flames are hanging on by a thread to their lead in the Northwest Division which they hold only by a single point now and are being chased down by the surging Vancouver Canucks.
Tomorrow night, the Wild take on the Edmonton Oilers and will be another playoff-like game as both the Wild and the Oilers are fighting for their playoff lives.
The question for tonight is whether or not this is a "must win" game for the Wild? Statistically speaking, probably not. A loss would not bar the Wild from garnering a playoff spot. However, with each loss, a whole lot more has to go in their favor in games in which they have no control over. A win tonight, on the other hand, could set the tone for the Wild's remaining games. The momentum they would gain from winning at the Saddledome would almost certainly carry over to tomorrow night's game in Edmonton and would probably be more momentum than what the Oilers are bringing back home after a huge win in Anaheim on Friday night. However, a loss in Calgary could have the exact opposite effect and could well lead to another loss Sunday night in Edmonton.
The Wild have little room for error at this point in the season. They need to grab approximately 11 points in their last 8 games. That leaves room for 3 losses, 1 in overtime and 2 in regulation. It also means they have to win 5 games. Winning 2 this weekend would make winning 3 more in their last 6 a whole lot easier.
After this weekend in Alberta, the Wild have Vancouver (home), Calgary (home), Detroit (away) Dallas (home), Nashville (home) and Columbus (away). The home cooking would taste a whole lot better with a little cushion.
Either way, the beginning of the end starts for the Wild the next 2 days in Alberta. Go Wild!!!!!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Losing in Calgary now makes this game and all remaining games MUST WIN games while our playoff race competitors are now playing MUST LOSE games. That is what this season has come down to for Wild fans. While not over optomistic, for some strange reason I still have a feeling of hope and I'm not sure why. We'll see soon enough.
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