Wild Game Day number 35 Wild Record (22-8-4 48 pts) Home Record (12-3-0)
Opponent: New York Islanders (14-14-6 34 pts) Road Record (3-7-2)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results: 2/2/16 Wild 3 @ Islanders 5 2/23/16 Islanders 4 @ Wild 1
Last result; 10/23 Wild 3 @ Islanders 6
The Wild return to the Xcel Energy Center tonight to host the Islanders in search of their 12th straight win. New York comes on their own modest three game winning streak. The Islanders have won the last three games versus the Wild as well, including a 6-3 triumph in Brooklyn back in October.
The Wild need to keep the intensity up tonight as this could very easily turn into a trip up game for sure. They have clearly established themselves as a real contender winning games both on the road in tough buildings as well as showing resiliency by winning after falling behind. But tonight is a new game and the Islanders have proven a tough opponent for the Wild.
Bruce Boudreau has his team clicking on all cylinders right now. He has established real competition for ice time as well as an interchangeable lineup that is highly successful. The strength still is Devan Dubnyk and the Wild defense, but the offense has become much more consistent, making the Wild a tough opponent every night.
The Islanders are searching for that same consistency that the Wild have found. They have struggled all season to put it all together. John Taveras is absolutely one of the NHL's top talents but the supporting cast has not at all come through for New York thus far.
The Minnesota natives Nick Leddy, Anders Lee, and Brock Nelson always seem to play well against the Wild and you can be assured they will have plenty of support in the crowd tonight in St. Paul.
Not to look ahead of course but with a Wild win and a Blue Jackets win in Winnipeg, the NHL could have a fantastic New Year's Eve showdown between two teams with 12 and 14 game win streaks.
First things first, the Islanders tonight?
Let's Play Hockey!