The Wild are doing exactly what they need to do as the season heads toward the final week. We are just 10 days from the end of the 82 game season and the Wild hold down second place in the difficult Central Division. 103 points currently tied with St. Louis with a game in hand. Of course the game in hand means that the Wild will be playing six games over the final nine days of the season.
They are a bit banged up as most teams are at this point in the season, but they have the luxury of already punching their post season ticket. They also have two outstanding goaltenders who are rotating their way through the final stretch of the season very methodically.
Last night it was Cam Talbot's turn and he delivered a solid 26 save shutout in Montreal. Talbotbwas bailed out by a wise coach's challenge in the second period which would have resulted in the tying goal for Montreal. That challenge was upheld and the goal disallowed.
Matt Boldy provided the insurance marker with a nifty between the legs bank shot off a sprawling Carey Price. Kevin Fiala remained red hot scoring his 30th of the season on the powerplay giving the Wild the 1-0 lead in the first period. Fiala now has seven goals and seven assists offer the Wild's last seven games.
Playing without two of their top defensemen in Matt Dumba and Jon Merrill, Jordie Benn and Alex Goligoski are stepping up to the challenge and giving the Wild some solid defense. Yes they have both been beaten in recent games and both have had some costly turnovers, but that depth to have two veterans to be able to insert into the lineup at this critical juncture in the season is a credit to Bill Guerin.
The forward corps has also been hit with the injury and illness bug with Jordan Greenway, Marcus Foligno, and Tyson Jost all out of the lineup. Now if this were the playoffs or more importantly if the Wild had to win to get in the lineup may be a little different. However, the Wild have out themselves into a good position that is allowing some extra recovery time for the injured regulars.
Foligno testing positive for COVID-19, is not necessarily a bad thing as he has been a bit banged up, so the rest for "Moose" should serve him well in the process.
Just one road tilt remains for the Wild and that comes on Sunday in Nashville. That is a place the Eild have struggled to win of late so taking care of business these next couple heading into the Sunday showdown are mission critical for the Wild in their quest to secure home ice in their first round matchup with St. Louis.