The first half of the season is officially in the books for the Minnesota Wild after their 6-2 win over Buffalo last night bringing their record to 22-16-3 for 47 points. They currently sit in the final playoff position in the Western Conference.
Not the first half by any stretch that they wanted or that management and the coaching staff expected. But all things being equal they are done just fine up to this point.
We all know nothing is won in the first half of the season, but most certainly things can be lost.
The Wild are just now getting their full lineup healthy and with Zach Parise back after missing the first 39 games, it is the equivalent of making a trade to acquire a top tier forward without giving up any assets in return.
Six games over .500 is ok, for now. 7 points out of 1st place in the Central Division with two games in hand, again ok.
It is a long season, but all that matters is getting into the playoffs, and what the team does once they get there.
There is actually a school of thought that says the Wild are better off being where they are now, rather than being atop the standings board. Having work to do and areas that need improvement is great because it keeps the team fresh and focused.
Having a healthy lineup creates competition within the team which ultimately holds the players accoun table for their play. It also builds character as players battle for each other which is necessary to make a good team become extraordinary.
So half way through the regular season marathon, and the Wild are in position to make a move. The second half of the season is where the separation occurs between the contenders and the pretenders. This is the fun part if the season.
The Wild have won four of the their last five and played some of their best hockey over the last two weeks. Good signs for sure, but nothing to get overly excited about. The four wins all came at home and if the Wild are going to make the playoffs, they need to start winning more consistently on the road where they have only won 8 of 21 games played away from the Xcel Energy Center.
There will be some more twists and turns through the next 41 games, the Wild have the talent and experience to make some noise. Now let's see how it all comes together.
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