The California opponent start to the Wild season is over with the boys winning five of the first eight. Now comes their first test with one of the Honda Division favorites, the Colorado Avalanche. To make it more interesting thw two clubs will play the next four games against each other with the first two here in St. Paul tonight and tomorrow then Tuesday and Thursday in Colorado.
Kevin Fiala will miss the first three of those four contests, as we learned yesterday that the Wild sniper was handed a 3-game suspension for his hit on Matt Roy Thursday night.
Fiala was just getting on track after starting the season with no points through the first four games, he had goals in three of the past four before his untimely ejection on Thursday night.
With every setback, injury, or suspension, opportunity arises for someone new to step up and fill the void. It is obvious that a skill player like Fiala is not easily replaced and it becomes more of a team approach to step up in the absence of their mate.
Jordan Greenway is the obvious guy to look to receive increased minutes and opportunity. Greenway has clearly taken the advice and not so gentle prodding that he received from Bill Guer8n and Dean Evason, coming to camp in far better condition. He is using his size more often and is quickly becoming the power forward the Wild had envisioned when they selected the 6'6", 225lb winger in the 2nd round back in 2015.
Not sure of what the line combinations will look like to start the game, but expect Evason to be juggling then throughout depending on the game situation.
It is expected that Brad Hunt will draw back into the lineup and possibly see time on both defense and the wing as well as work on the powerplay.
Colorado comes in having won their last two against the Sharks after splitting 2-game sets with St. Louis, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. As we know every game has a four point swing possibility and with four games In a row that stretches to a whopping 16 point potential swing.
So to say these games very early are enormous for both teams, but potentially more so for the Wild as they try to establish themselves as a playoff contender in the West/Honda.
Kaapo Kahkonen is expected to get the start tonight with Cam Talbot serving as his backup and then Talbot returning to the Wild crease for tomorrow's rematch.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!