Wild Game Day number 43 Wild Record (22-17-3 47 pts) Home Record (14-4-2)
Opponent: Calgary Flames (21-16-4 46 pts) Road Record (9-5-4)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St.Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM 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
Last result: 10/21 Wild 4 @ Flames 2 12/12 Flames 1 @ Wild 2(SO)
After one of their worst defeats of the season the Wild return to the friendly confines of the Xcel Energy Center to host the Flames tonight. Minnesota has taken the first two meetings of the season series with the Flames, winning in Calgary on the strength of three third period goals, and stealing a shootout victory last month at home.
Calgary is on a three game win streak, all one goal victories with each occurring on home ice. Flames head Coach Glen Gulutzan, had a "Mike Yeo" type tirade last week during a Flames practice. Gulutzan was apparently not happy with the effort his team was giving during the Friday practice and let them know exactly how he felt.
Pressure is mounting for every team, but it is especially high for those teams where the expectations are higher. Calgary is one of those teams for sure, and of course we all know the Wild are very much so as well.
With every game having significantly more meaning and the standings being as tight as they are, there is no room for complacency or a day where a team just goes through the motions. It could mean the difference between making the playoffs or an early Summer.
Gulutzan knows the sense of urgency his team is under as they currently sit 12th in the Western Conference, but just a single point out of the final wildcard spot.
Bruce Boudreau also is feeling that same pressure and hopefully his team is as well. If things are going to be different in Minnesota, and this years Wild team is going to finally get over the hump and find success beyond the regular season, the team needs to experience a significant change in attitude internally.
There cannot be the same old rhetoric that we have been hearing for the past several seasons. No more comparing the current issues and results of the Wild to other teams that have had past success. We have heard this before where the comparisons to the Blackhawks of recent seasons and yesterday Chuck Fletcher referenced the Penguins struggles this season.
Chicago and Pittsburgh have won multiple Stanley Cups, and have had to manage the salary cap and make significant roster adjustments along the way. Making any kind of comparison with these teams and the Wild, is just a smoke screen to say your not as bad as the record shows or that other good teams are experiencing the same ups and downs is nonsense.
The Wild need to win, the expectations put on the team by owner Craig Leipold are warranted. His team has been in the playoffs five straight seasons with only two series victories to show for it. The team lives at the top of the salary cap with some very high priced veterans with a whole lot of experience under their belts.
It is time for the leadership of this team to be called out and held accountable. The Wild have some fine young talent that is here in the case of Joel Eriksson Ek, and not too far off with Luke Kunin and most likely Jordan Greenway following the Olympics and his college season.
The time has come for the Wild torch to be passed and the veterans need to take the younger players under their wing and mentor them instead of lamenting the fact that they are going to take their minutes away from them.
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