If ever there were a more perfect scenario for Marian Gaborik! A soon to be unrestricted free agent hampered throughout his career with nagging injuries and surgical corrections comes back, late in the season, and carries his team onto the playoffs and whatever successes might await/surprise them there.

No doubt, Mr. Gaborik has been a force in the few games since his return. The question is: can re re-gain that "top 5" form that his stats point to when he plays?

Not only will Gaborik have to give it his all, but those around him will have to as well because the last six games all have the Wild playing as the underdog from one degree to another.

The last 6 regualr season games are as follows: Vancouver (home), Calgary (home), Detroit (away), Dallas (home), Nashville (home), and Columbus (away). The only back-to-back situation are the last 2 games.

According to nhldrs.com, the Wild are underdogs in every last game. Vancouver is favored at 66.02%. Calgary at 68.21%, Detroit at 62.79%, Dallas at 55.78%, Nashville at 59.67% and Columbus at 55.17%.

Should the Wild make the playoffs, they will have proven their worth in these last 6 games.

As to how it all looks on paper, a difference of 6 points seperates 6th place Columbus from 11th place Minnesota:

(6) Columbus - 86 points
(7) Nashville - 84 points
(8) St. Louis - 83 points
(9) Anaheim - 82 points
(11) Edmonton - 81 points
(12) Minnesota - 80 points

Here's the breakdown in remaining games for these teams:

Columbus: Nashville, Nashville, Chicago, Chicago, St. Louis, and Minnesota
Nashville: Columbus, Chicago, Columbus, Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota
St. Louis: Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, Columbus, and Colorado
Anaheim: Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, San Jose, Dallas, and Phoenix
Edmonton: Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, L.A., Calgary and Calgary
Minnesota: Vancouver, Calgary, Detroit, Dallas, Nashville and Columbus (as stated above).

So, who's got the easiest remaining schedule? My vote goes to St. Louis followed closely by Anaheim. Minnesota fans, get your Blackhawks jerseys out and cheer like crazy for the Hawks to take it to Columbus (2 games), Nashville (2 games) and St. Louis (1 game).

It should be a fun stretch to watch. For the Wild to really have a chance, they can only afford 1 more loss (maybe).

So who do you see grabbing the final 3 spots in the West and in what order?

Go Wild!!!!!!

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