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Wild Game Day number 6
Wild Record (1-2-2 4 pts)
Road Record (1-2-1)
Opponent: Calgary Flames (4-3-0 8 pts)
Home Record (1-2-0)
Site: Scotia Bank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta
Time: 9:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results:
11/15 Flames 1 @ Wild 0
12/2 Wild 2 @ Flames 3(SO)
2/1 Wild 1 @ Flames 5
It is only October people, no time to jump off the deep end. Yes, the Wild have so far been very frustrating through their 1-2-2 start, having been either tied or had the lead in the 3rd period in all five games, and only 1 win to show for it.
The goaltending and defense have been suspect throughout and last night was more of the same. Devan Dubnyk has looked pedestrian and what has happened to Matt Dumba and Jonas Brodin? Even Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon have looked average at best.
The good news is that we know the Wild have the talent, and better yet the right guy behind the bench as well. He will pull this team out of the funk and get them back on track. Bruce Boudreau need not look far in his own coaching history to see a very similar type start. In 2015, Boudreau's final season in Anaheim, his Duck team muddled through October going 1-7-2, but righted the ship to finish the season first in the Pacific Division with 103 points.
The best medicine for the Wild is to get right back at it tonight. So off to Calgary to face a Flames team that has beaten the Wild four straight times including all three meetings last season.
Calgary made a big splash in the off season acquiring long time Coyote netminder, Mike Smith in an effort to sure up their biggest area of concern. They also brought in Eddie Lack to back up Smith, and gone are Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson in the process.
The ageless wonder Jaromir Jagr, was signed just as the season was about to kick off to give the Flames another veteran presence to complement a young and hungry group of talented forwards. Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan lead this young Flame attack, and now they are joined by Jagr on the top line.
Calgary's defense has been one of the league's best and it has only been made stronger with the acquisition of Travis Hamonic from the Islanders. The top four of Flame Captain, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie, and Hamonic are as good as it gets. Add to that group Michael Stone and you have a top five similar to what the Wild had when Marco Scandella was here.
Speaking of Scandella, his absence is noticeable for the Wild through the first five games, as Boudreau really has no one to turn to when one of his top four falters. That luxury is gone, with the veteran Kyle Quincey, and youngsters Mike Reilly and Gustav Olofsson rounding out the Wild bottom 3 dmen.
It is a long season and the Wild will get things going, they are only 5 games into a long 82 season. Yes, they need to turn things around, but they are not that far away either. It is a matter of the team playing their way out of this, and the only way to do that is play the games. They are finally getting a chance to get that going as their extended days off are a thing of the past for the next month and a half.
Expect Alex Stalock to get the nod in goal for the Wild tonight after Dubnyk took the loss last night in Winnipeg. Also look for the Wild to come out with a much better start to their game tonight, after giving up 2 goals in the first 10 minutes, last night, against the Jets.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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