The wild Wild schedule kicks in tonight as they host the Metropolitan Division leading Carolina Hurricanes. Minnesota's final 40 games will be played over the next 77 days with games every other night for the most part the rest of the way.
Bill Guerin has been putting together a team that is ready to compete with the big boys in the league and tonight is an opportunity to show that they belong in the conversation.
Carolina is stacked with high end offensive talent led by Sebastià¡n Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, and elite defense unit and Fredrik Andersen locking things down between the pipes. Hurricanes head coach, Rod Brind'amour is one of the league's very best bench bosses and gets the most of his players every night.
For the Wild they will finally have their top six defensemen dressed in the same game for the first time since December 16th. Matt Dumba will return to the lineup and Jordie Benn will sit tonight after filling in admirably for each of the Wild regulars that spent time on the shelf over most of the last two months. Benn has been a solid addition for a gut that was signed to provide experience and really be just a depth insurance policy type of player.
Cam Talbot gets the start for the Wild tonight as the alternation of goalies continues.
In a minor move the Wild have sent Andrew Hammond to the Canadiens for minor league left winger Brandon Baddock who was originally drafted in the sixth round by the Devils back in 2014. He has played one NHL game and primarily known more as a tough guy in his minor league career racking up 518 PIMS in 228 AHL contests, while contributing just 44 points.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!