Wild Game Day number 22 Wild Record (11-7-3 25 pts) Home Record (8-3-0)
Opponent: Dallas Stars (18-5-0 36 pts) Road Record (9-2-0)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, Minnesota
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 11/1 Stars 1 @ Wild 4 11/15 Wild 2 @ Stars 1 11/28 Wild 5 @ Stars 4 (OT) 1/3 Wild 1 @ Stars 7 2/22 Stars 2 @ Wild 6
Last Result: 11/14 Wild 2 @ Stars 3 (OT)
The Wild are officially stumbling dropping 5 of their last 6 and 2 straight at home. It does not get any easier tonight as they face the Central Division leading Dallas Stars who are off to a sizzling 18-5-0 start. The Stars have won 5 straight on the road and are 9-2-0 away from the American Airlines Center.
Zach Parise returned to the lineup but even he could not inspire a better effort. The Wild delivered their worst performance of the season finishing with just 15 shots on goal. They looked lethargic for much of the game, outside of a few good shifts in the second and third periods. The shot selections were awful, and far too few.
Dallas brings a huge challenge to the Wild as they are the highest scoring team and they are playing with the extreme confidence that they cannot be beaten no matter what the situation. Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, and the 2nd year sensation John Klingberg are dangerous every time they hit the ice, and lethal on the power play.
Tonight is a real test for the Wild, they have the opportunity to step up against one of the league's best. Time to show that they are an elite team by getting up off the mat and flexing their own home ice muscle. They need to come out ready from opening draw to final buzzer. Get the legs moving finish hits take what the Stars give them and finish opportunities.
Teams all go through tough stretches and how they come out of those goes a long way in establishing what they will ultimately become. Tonight is a great test for the Wild, let's see how they react.
Let's Play Hockey!