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Wild Hit the Road for 1st Time in 3 Weeks |
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Wild Game Day number 61
Wild Record (40-14-6 86 pts)
Road Record (18-6-5)
Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (28-29-6 62 pts)
Home Record (14-14-1)
Site: MTS Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results:
10/25/15 Wild 4 @ Jets 5
11/10/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 5
11/27/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 1
1/15/16 Jets 1 @ Wild 0
4/3/16 Wild 1 @ Jets 5
Last result:
10/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 4
11/23 Jets 1 @ Wild 3
2/7 Wild 4 @ Jets 2
The Wild hit the road for the first time in three weeks following their unprecedented eight game homestand, that saw them go 5-2-1. With last night’s 5-4 thrilling OT win over the Kings, the Wild also extended their streak to nine straight wins following losses, a streak that dates back to their 1-0 loss at Colorado on November fifth.
The Wild erased four one goal leads last night before finally prevailing in OT on an epic Mikael Granlund breakaway tally. The designed play was executed to perfection with Mikko Koivu winning the opening face-off in the extra frame, Jared Spurgeon making the pass to Granlund who took it in flight, picked up speed through the neutral zone, split the defense, and used his creativity and patience to beat Kings goalie Jonathan Quick for the game winner.
Returning to game action following the league mandated break, has not been kind to many of the previous teams going through the drill, so that fact alone loomed over the Wild as they prepared for last night’s game. But if that was the only thing working against the Wild, that would have beenfine with them, but of course it wasn’t as we all learned. The mumps reared it’s ugly head once again, with the latest victims being Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, along with assistant coach Scott Stevens.
Throw into that the newly acquired Martin Hanzal and Ryan White had to travel all day arriving in late afternoon, and having to go to Bloomington for team physicals, then to the Xcel just ahead of game time. Bruce Boudreau was able to give them a quick three minute rundown on the system and onto the ice.
Ryan White delivered his first Wild goal to go along with an assist while Hanzal had 2 shots on goal delivered 5 hits and won 6 of his 14 draws in just under 17 minutes of playing time. Boudreau said that it was just good that they were in the lineup, and knew they were going purely on adrenaline.
Tonight it will be more of the same as the Wild head north to take on a tough Jets team that is battling for their playoff lives and really can ill afford to fall further off the pace as they trail the final wild card position by 5 points and have played two more games than St. Louis, who currently hold down that final playoff position.
It is always a battle when the Wild and Jets get together and tonight should be no different. The Jets bring an exciting up tempo offense that can score with the best of them. The Wild will want to keep the game simple and not let the tempo of the game be dictated by the high flying Jets offense.
Darcy Kuemper will be in the Wild net tonight. It will be another good chance for Kuemper to build on his strong performances of late. He will most certainly be counted upon more as the Wild play the final 22 games in the next 40 days.
The Wild forwards should be the same as they were last night meaning that Tyler Graovac and Jordan Schroeder will remain in the lineup in place of Parise and Pominville. For Graovac it will mean his fourth game in four nights following his weekend with Iowa, which included a hat trick on Sunday. When asked if Graovac could go four in four, Boudreau responded, “I don’t think there’s a choice.”
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