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Uncertain Road Ahead For Lifeless Wild |
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Wild Game Day number 59
Wild Record (31-20-7 69 pts)
Road Record (11-15-1)
Opponent: New York Islanders (29-25-6 64 pts)
Home Record (16-10-4)
Site: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Time: 12:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results:
10/23 Wild 3 @ Islanders 6
12/29 Islanders 4 @ Wild 6
Last result:
10/26 Islanders 4 @ Wild 6
The battle of eighth place teams takes place in Brooklyn in a rare afternoon weekday start for the Wild. The Islanders have won two in a row, with both games ending in identical 3-0 shutouts.
Both Islander goalies are coming off shutout victories, as Jaroslav Halak blanked the Rangers, making 50 stops in the contest, while Thomas Greiss made 45 saves at Carolina on Friday night.
The consecutive shutouts still left the Islanders dead last in goals (3.55) allowed per game. Typically when the Wild and Islanders get together it is usually a high scoring affair, so don't expect a third straight whitewash for the home squad.
The Islander offense is ranked fourth in the NHL, scoring an average of 3.28 goals per game, while the Wild rank in the middle of the pack in both categories (2.91 Goals/GM 15th, 2.83 Goals Against/Gm 13th).
Playoff hopes are on the line every game, and with the Wild playing their next three on the road, they must raise the compete level if they are going to qualify for the post season for a sixth straight season.
A five game homestand on the heels of a strong road win in St. Louis was supposed to set the Wild up for a big push up the standings. But that view has changed following the Wild's very disappointing 2-1-2 record in those five Xcel Energy Center games.
There are a number of factors that jump off the page when looking back on the last five Wild games, but none bigger than their opponents outscoring them 6-2 in the third period over that stretch and the points that were lost as a result.
The real issue is their is absolutely no accountability for the 15 games that the Wild have lost after either being tied or leading in the third period which has equates to 23 missed points in the standings.
Unless something philosophically changes with this Wild team, they will not make the playoffs and even worse, will most likely still draft in the middle of the first round.
This group of Wild players has hit the wall, they are what they are nothing more nothing less. An average team, with absolutely no identity.
It's Always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
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Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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