It was due to happen and last night was the night where the Wild threw up the clunker and the pesky Coyotes took full advantage. Give Arizona credit as they played an inspired game throughout, while the Wild looked for the perfect play nearly every time they entered the Coyotes zone.
Fortunately for the Wild, Colorado helped them out by beating the Blues 5-3 leaving the Minnesota and St. Louis tied with 109 points each. The Wild now know they need three points at least from the remaining two games in order to secure home ice advantage in the first round matchup with the Blues.
The Wild have been trying to figure out their special teams over the last several weeks and it is a one step forward one step backwards result. Last night they looked like a team afraid to shoot the puck, and the passing clinic was very difficult to watch. That seems like a minor fix, however more alarming is the fact that Alex Goligoski is not at all Jared Spurgeon quarterbacking the top unit.
It was an overall bad performance from the collective group. It is behind them now and they still control their own destiny in the battle for second place in the Central Division.
Jordan Greenway returned after missing the last seven games and his linemate Marcus Foligno was back after missing the previous four. They reunited with Joel Eriksson Ek and established themselves all night as the Wild's best trio. Eriksson Ek continued his hot hand with a goal and and assist giving himn5 goals and eight points in the last three games.
Marc-Andre Fleury making his third straight start was good at times but in the end not where he wants to be at this juncture of the season, heading into the playoffs.
The Flames tomorrow and Avalanche on Friday, Wild need to secure three points in the standings from those two games. St. Louis wraps up their season at home against Vegas who were all but eliminated last night with their overtime loss in Dallas.