The himestand continues for the Wild as the red hot New Jersey Devils visit the XCEL Energy Center. Jersey comes in on a 10-1-1 clip while the Wild are in the midst of a 3-game skid and lovers of six of their last eight.
It is put up or shut up time for this Wild team. The playoffs have already begin in Minnesota's case. They need to start winning and stringing some Ws together as the playoff race is too tight for any kind of extended free fall
Filip Gustavsson gets the start tonight and Jonas Brodin returns to the Wild lineup. Jack Hughes on the Devils side will miss the game, sadly for Minnesota fans who only get to see New Jersey one time. Hughes is one of the league's emerging stars and his absence will be felt by the Devils for sure.
Joel Eriksson Ek will move to play with Matt Boldy and Brandon Duhaime as the Wild n3ed to get their offense going. Freddy Gaudreau shifts down to center the checking line with Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno This is a role better suited for Gaudreau while Eriksson Ek should provide a better complement to Matt Boldy.
Ryan Reeves appears to be the odd man out tonight in what would be his 800th NHL gam if he were to dress. Mason Shaw looks likely to get back in and team with Sam Steel and Connor Dewar on the fourth line.
The boys have to take it up9n themselves to get out of the slump. It is going to take a better effort all the way around. It begins in their own zone and being disciplined to stay within the Wild game structure. Taking care of pucks, getting in the right side of the puck, and getting pucks out quickly.
In the offensive zone the game plan has to be simple, get pucks to the net with traffic in front of the Devils cage. The cutesy stuff needs to be left behind and moving forward it is all.about volume in the offensive zone for this Wild team period.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!