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Which Way Will The Wild Go From Here |
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Wild Game Day number 58
Wild Record (30-20-6 68 pts)
Home Record (20-5-5)
Opponent: Anaheim Ducks (28-20-11 67 pts)
Road Record (13-11-7)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 1:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results:
1/8 Wild 2 @ Ducks 1
1/21 Ducks 3 @ Wild 5
2/14 Ducks 1 @ Wild 0
Last Result:
12/8 Wild 3 @ Ducks 2 (OT)
The homestand wraps up this afternoon, with a matinee against the Ducks. Anaheim enters the game just a point back of the Wild for the eighth and final wildcard spot.
An important contest indeed for the Wild, being a potential point swing game. A critical game too, in the fact that a loss, would signal a .500 homestand and cast a huge shadow of doubt on the Wild playoff chances.
The first four games have not been very impressive despite the two wins, the effort has only come in small segments of each game.
The Ducks enter today's game off a 3-2 win in Chicago on Thursday night and have taken points in four of their previous five games (3-1-1).
Minnesota took the first meeting in Anaheim 3-2,on the strength of Matt Dumba's overtime winner.
Devan Dubnyk was the subject of Boudreau's post game press conference Thursday. Boudreau felt that the goals Washington scored, were of the "soft" variety and he made that quite clear in his post game comments.
Dubnyk said all the right things, when questioned about Boudreau's comments. He said that many like to question the goals that go in and that everyone has an opinion of the goals should not have gone in, but he is confident in where his game is and his preparation.
Goaltending is the toughest position on the ice, and it gets the most scrutiny by far. Goalie mistakes usually show up on the scoreboard, which makes for an easy target.
The main focus should be on keeping Dubnyk on top of his game, because this Wild team will only go as far as Dubs can carry them.
Boudreau may want to look at the lack of leadership his collective group has, combined with the lack of ownership his team has taken for their inconsistency.
Chuck Fletcher has said that he is going to be active at the deadline, but what does that mean? Is he preparing to make a significant move to either dump some salary or is he going to try to pry a key piece loose from somewhere.
What he needs to do is shed several of the veterans that are way too satisfied with themselves and bring back some youth that will infuse life into the Wild. The NHL is so wide open and with several teams having an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, this Wild team could absolutely be one of them with change of attitude.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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