Wild Game Day number 65 Wild Record (42-16-6 90 pts) Road Record (19-8-5)
Opponent: Tampa Bay Lightning (30-26-9 69 pts) Home Record (17-11-3)
Site: Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida
Time: 6:30PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 11/6 Lightning 0 @ Wild 1 1/2 Wild 2 @ Lightning 3
Last result: 2/10 Lightning 1 @ Wild 2 (SO)
The Wild had one of those games Tuesday night unfortunately it occurred right before they headed out on their five game road trip which begins tonight in Tampa. Time to put it behind them and focus on the next one, something the Wild have been very good at all season.
A lot is made of Bruce Boudreau and his constant shuffling of lines in an attempt to spark his team. I find that a bit amusing after watching the previous regime trot out the same old same old night in and night out almost like trying to drive the proverbial square peg into the round hole.
Give me a coach that goes down swinging in an effort to do something to spark his team to win, rather than the same old stale approach and hope for success. Sure the moves won't always work, but at least there is a chance, which all any of us can ask for.
The new additions are still settling into their roles and the lineup is just now taking shape. A few injuries have crept in on the blueline with Christian Folin out for at least the next three weeks and Matt Dumba who missed Tuesday's game is day to day.
Nate Prosser is very capable of stepping into the lineup and Gustav Olofsson played with a whole lot more confidence to his game on Tuesday night.
Tampa is a team that was a preseason Cup contender, but the injury bug hit them pretty hard, most notably Captain, Steven Stamkos who has been sidelined for much of the season with a torn meniscus. Stamkos is back skating with the team but no timetable has been set for his return.
The Lightning were viewed as a seller at the trade deadline as the parted with Ben ishop, Brian Boyle, and Valteri Fillpula. That has not stopped them from working their way into the playoff picture in the East. Entering tonight's game with the Wild, the Lightning find themselves 4 points out of the final wildcard position in the east with 17 games to play.
The Lightning are 6-2-2 since their 2-1 loss in St. Paul back on February 10th. Nikita Kucherov, the NHL's first star last week(5 goals and 9 points in 4 games), is absolutely one of the most electrifying players in the entire league. Reunited with his "triplets" linemates Tyler Johnson and Ondej Palat, the trio has found the magic that made them nearly unstoppable two seasons ago.
Tampa is too good of a team to not make a run at this and if Stamkos can get back into the lineup they could instantly become a serious factor. So the Wild have their work cut out for them if the want to keep their own streak alive of not losing consecutive games in regulation, a streak that dates back four months now.
It is crunch time now and the boys will need to bring a much better effort along with adjustments mid game in order to get to where they want to be come season's end. This trip will go a long way in determining if the Wild are the chasee or the chaser.
It's Always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
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