Wild Game Day number 79 Wild Record (38-29-11 87 pts) Road Record (17-15-7)
Opponent: Detroit Red Wings (38-28-11 87 pts) Home Record (20-13-6)
Site: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
Time: 6:30PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 1/20 Wild 4 @ Red Wings 5 (SO) 4/4 Red Wings 3 @ Wild 2 (SO)
Last Result: 12/28 Red Wings 1 @ Wild 3
The good news for the Wild after last night's stinging loss, is the fact that they have no time to reflect on that one. They travel to Detroit tonight to face a desperate Red Wings team that is in a battle for their own playoff lives. The Wings have a well documented 24 year playoff streak that is on the line. Detroit is 1 point behind Boston for 3rd in the Atlantic Division and 2 points back of Philadelphia for 8th in the Eastern Conference.
The Wild lead is still 5 points over Colorado who was idle last night. With a win tonight they can keep the lead at 5 or extend it to 7, depending on what Colorado does in their home game vs the Capitals. Either way the Wild have control still and do not have to watch the scoreboard as long as they take care of their own business.
Last night's game was a perfect example of what can happen if you let a team hang around. A fluke goal that pinballed off both of Haula's skates and then under the stick of Dubnyk, off of his skate and in with under 5 minutes to play. The Wild did not play an awful game by any stretch they just did not play an inspired 60 minutes that one might expect a desperate team to play. John Torchetti's team came out flat in front of the home crowd and the result, 2 points that got away.
Every game is still a playoff game for the Wild and tonight their opponent is in the same situation. Both the Wings and Wild have almost identical records and have both experienced the highs and lows. The Wings played their best hockey through January and early February, while the Wild were hitting the skids. Since mid-February the teams have gone in opposite directions, the Wings have been mediocre going 10-10-2, while the Wild have gone 15-7-1 over that same period.
Erik Haula extended his league leading point streak to 10 games with his third period goal last night. Jared Spurgeon left the game early in the first period after blocking a Bobby Ryan shot. There was no update on his condition for tonight other than he was traveling with the team to Detroit. Thomas Vanek who missed the game with an upper body injury also traveled with the team as well.
Expect the Wild to bring a much better effort tonight as they look to rebound off of last night's disappointing loss. Detroit will be well prepared as well and will draw on the veteran leadership of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, as they look to get themselves back into a playoff position and extend that playoff streak to 25 years.
Let's Play Hockey!