Wild Game Day number 54 Wild Record (29-19-5 63 pts) Home Record (18-4-4)
Opponent: Arizona Coyotes (12-32-9 33 pts) Road Record (6-16-6)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St.Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results: 12/17 Coyotes 1 @ Wild 4 1/19 Coyotes 3 @ Wild 4 4/8 Wild 3 @ Coyotes 1
The Wild begin a five game homestand that if things go according to plan, they have the opportunity to make a move up the standings. Tonight the Coyotes are the opponent and by all accounts this should be a relatively certain two points for the Wild. Not so quick, as the Wild have had their share of ups and downs to this point, while Arizona has been playing some much more competitive hockey over the last month.
The Coyotes currently on a four game losing streak, but coming off a solid performance Tuesday in their 4-3 loss at Winnipeg. The Coyotes eight games prior to the four game skid, had gone 3-1-4 including a 5-2 win over the Blues in St. Louis.
Jonas Brodin had surgery on his left hand yesterday and is out for 3-4 weeks, which translates to 13 or 14 games. That is going to put this team to the test, as losing a defenseman for the Wild is much different element than losing a top forward.
It will mean greater ice time for Gustav Olofsson who will move up to play with Matt Dumba. Mike Reilly will get back into the lineup and will need to raise his level at five on five. Reilly does give the Wild some upside on the powerplay, but his play of late at even strength is where the question marks arise.
Chris Stewart missed practice yesterday due to being ill. No word on his status for tonight. Stewart was the off man out in St. Louis on Tuesday.
Tyler Ennis had a rough game in St. Louis despite the Wild lopsided win, Ennis was consistently behind the play by a step. He had one particular shift where he was late into the offensive zone, mishandled a drop pass that led to a Blues rush into the Wild zone. On the ensuing breakout Ennis failed to gain the red line before dumping the puck deep for a Wild line change, resulting in an icing call.
That is unacceptable from any player, but especially from a guy that is supposedly fighting for a position in the lineup period. Ennis has a lot more talent than we have seen this season, not really sure what is going on with him, but the effort is not at all consistent.
The Wild need to come out strong and take it to the Coyotes early and often. If the Wild play the simple game shooting the puck at every chance, they will take the Coyotes out of the game quickly.
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