Wild Game Day number 19 Wild Record (9-7-2 20 pts) Home Record (5-3-0)
Opponent: Winnipeg Jets (9-10-2 20 pts) Road Record (3-6-2)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 6:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last season results: 10/25/15 Wild 4 @ Jets 5 11/10/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 5 11/27/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 1 1/15/16 Jets 1 @ Wild 0 4/3/16 Wild 1 @ Jets 5
Last result: 10/15 Jets 3 @ Wild 4
The Jets are next up for the struggling Wild tonight in St. Paul. Minnesota took the first meeting between these two back in mid October 4-3 at the Xcel Energy Center, but the Jets have won six of the last eight with the Wild. 14 of the 18 games the Jets and Wild have played since the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg, have been decided by just one goal.
The Wild and Jets are opposites though as Winnipeg can most definitely put the puck in the net, while the Wild offense is about as anemic as you will see in the NHL. Winnipeg has a lot of trouble keeping the puck out of their net while Devan Dubnyk and the Wild defense has virtually carried Minnesota to this point.
Super rookie Patrick Laine leads the Jets with 12 goals but has just 1 in the last 7 games. Mark Scheifele is becoming one of the NHLs top offensive forces with 11 goals and 23 points this season and dating back to mid February of last season, Scheifele has scored more points than any other player in the league.
Marco Scandella returns tonight after missing 10 games with a high ankle sprain.
For the Wild things have to change, and they need to change quickly and become habit. Lack of effort and complacency have no place in pro sports. The Wild as a team have become both over the last few seasons and it is very disappointing to say the least.
This is solely on the players now. Leadership and teamwork are clearly missing in Minnesota. You can throw all the possession numbers out that you want but in order to win in the NHL, you need to bring a solid effort every night, and fight for each other. Every man pulling his weight and not thinking he is bigger than the team.
The game is simple but when teams try to force things they tend to make it very difficult. Possession stats are highly overrated. In order to win teams must be able to take what the game gives them,and adapt to the situation. Simplify the game, get pucks deep when that is the best option, skate the puck in when the opponent gives up the blue line. Shoot to generate offense and get more traffic to the middle of the ice.
Thanksgiving is a benchmark for teams and traditionally those that are in playoff position tend to stay there. Today the Wild occupy the 8th and final Western Conference playoff position, but Nashville is climbing fast and Winnipeg and Colorado are right there as well. Every game is crucial and 2 points in November are just as important as 2 points in March and April. The Wild have squandered several points this month already and can ill afford to let the Jets get any points tonight.
Let's Play Hockey!