Wild Game Day number 37 Wild Record (23-9-4 50 pts) Road Record (10-5-4)
Opponent: San Jose Sharks (23-13-2 48 pts) Home Record (13-4-1)
Site: SAP Center, San Jose, California
Time: 9:30PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results: 12/12 Wild 2 @ Sharks 0 1/23 Wild 3 @ Sharks 4 4/5 Sharks 3 @ Wild 0
The Wild are back to work after a 4 day break coming off their first loss in nearly a month. The break came at a very good time as the Wild had gotten away form their strength in the last few games. That good solid team oriented approach beginning in the defensive zone with strong goaltending and solid defensive zone coverage had given way to a more aggressive offensive approach that resulted in 12 goals against in the last three games.
The time off allowed Bruce Boudreau and staff to get the team back on track to focusing on their game plan and back to a more disciplined approach. Winning 12 games in a row is a tremendous feat in today's NHL, and the Wild have made a significant statement along the way that they are a legitimate contender in the Western Conference.
Tonight will be another great measuring stick for the Wild as they travel to the Shark tank. How will they respond to a loss after a long winning streak? Did they learn from the past few games that they need to play the game to their strengths? Can they respond in another tough road atmosphere?
The Sharks enter tonight's tilt off back to back one goal losses at the hands of the Kings. San Jose has been challenged offensively all season having scored just 93 goals this season through their first 38 games, an average of 2.45 goals per game. They are led offensively by former Wild defenseman Brent Burns and his 15 goals.
Burns is always a thorn in the side of Minnesota and more so to their fans, that Wild let him slip away. The continued emergence of Charlie Coyle is easing that sting a bit, as he is clearly taking the next step in his progression of becoming an elite NHL power forward.
With a Wild win tonight and a Blackhawks loss of any kind the Wild will jump over Chicago into 1st place in the Central Division and the Western Conference and still hold four games in hand. First place in January isn't the goal by any stretch but it is a good start to getting this team on course to where they ultimately expect to be.
Let's Play Hockey!