If tonight is anything like Monday's tilt between the Wild and Golden Knights we should be in for another entertaining game. Although the Wild did not get the end result they were looking for there are a lot of positives to take from the OT loss.
First off Vegas controlled much of the tempo in the first period yet the Wild were able to keep the game scoreless. Vegas did manage to get the game's first goal on the powerplay in the second, but the Wild came right back with not one but two goals of their own.
After Vegas tied the game with Max Paccioretti scoring on another Golden Knights powerplay, the Wild once again answered with two quick tallies to take a 4-2 lead into the third. If you are counting, with those four even strength goals that brings their total to an astounding 28 in the last seven games!
Some may call the third period a collapse by the Wild as they let that two goal lead slip away. In some ways there may be some truth to that but let's give credit to the Golden Knights who were not going to go quietly in their own building with fans in the seats.
It is also a learning experience for the Wild as wins do not come easy on any night and winning six in a row often requires some good fortune along the way as well.
Once again the Wild powerplay did not contribute to the offense, however that was because they had no man advantage opportunities. That is a whole other topic which we will leave just where it is and not detract from what was a good game played by two pretty solid clubs.
Tonight expect the Wild to come out with their skating legs early to match the Vegas energy level from the start. The Wild match-up very well with the Golden Knights and they are by no means intimidated with playing in Vegas or against Marc Andre Fleury.
Every point is critical and with 6 points separating first thru sixth place in the West/Honda division and just 2 points between the Wild and Knights the proverbial litmus test is once again present for the new look Minnesota Wild.
This is not the Wild of years past, this is a team that can skate and play a skill game as well as lock it down with a tremendous defense corps and solid goaltending.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
UPDATED: Zach Parise will not play tonight as a disciplinary action following his extended shift late in the third period which eventually resulted in Alex Tuch's game tying goal. It was uncharacteristic of Zach. The Wild forwards had been on the ice for an extended shift to begin with and when they were able to clear the puck out of the zone both Marcus Foligno and Nico Sturm made their way to the Wild bench but for reasons unknown Parise did not follow and that very well may have been the difference maker in the Golden Knights getting the equalizer and sending the game to OT.
Ryan Hartman who left Monday's game with an lower body injury will not be available tonight along with Marcus Johansson. Gerry Mayhew and Kyle Rau were recalled from the taxi squad and will be in the lineup tonight.
Of the two Parise and Hartman, I believe the Wild will miss Hartman the most as he has been playing some of his best hockey since coming to Minnesota as a free agent prior to the start of last season. Hartman has been playing center in the absence of Johansson and his play in all three zones of the ice has been elevated
Rau and Mayhew will bring energy for certain and Dean Evason is furthering his no nonsense approach where preferred treatment is a distant memory.