Wild Game Day number 18 Wild Record (9-7-1 19 pts) Road Record (4-4-1)
Opponent: Dallas Stars (7-7-5 14 pts) Home Record (4-3-2)
Site: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
Time: 7:30PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results 11/14 Wild 2 @ Stars 3 (OT) 11/28 Stars 4 @ Wild 3 (OT) 12/21 Stars 6 @ Wild 3 1/9 Wild 2 @ Stars 1 2/9 Stars 4 @ Wild 3
Playoff Series Results Game 1 Wild 0 @Stars 4 Game 2 Wild 1 @ Stars 2 Game 3 Stars 3 @Wild 5 Game 4 Stars 3 @ Wild 2 Game 5 Wild 5 @ Stars 4 (OT) Game 6 Stars 5 @ Wild 4
Last Result: 10/29 Stars 0 @ Wild 4
Tonight the Wild travel to Dallas in search of a better effort than they gave in the third period on Saturday in St. Paul. The opponent tonight of course is the Dallas Stars, a team we all know very well. This isn't about the opponent any longer this is all about how the Wild come to play night in and night out.
Lately that has been subpar and it is time to change that. The time has come that roster adjustments are the only way that the Wild will ever get out of the win one lose one, play up or down to the level of their opponent doldrums.
The line juggling can go on forever and continue to deliver no more than limited success. Bruce Boudreau was brought in to win and one of the first things he said when he arrived is that " he always felt the Wild should have a much better record than they do, because they always played a strong structured game." Well now he is experiencing the pain of this team first hand.
The only way to get the team going is to shake things up. Start by tearing the "C" off of Mikko Koivu's sweater, along with the "A's" that adorn those of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. This team is leaderless, which is evident of their up and down play.
The "Minnesota Nice" doesn't fly in the NHL. Nothing against Koivu, Parise, and Suter, but they are the constants of this squad and they have never elevated their leadership game to the level of the league's elite.
Boudreau has his work cut out for him, while Wild GM, Chuck Fletcher's seat is getting very warm. It is time to make some dramatic changes in the culture of this team before it is too late. The only way that can be achieved is through change.
I don't care what the lines are tonight.
I don't care who the opponent is tonight.
All I care about is how the Wild are going to respond to an absolutely embarrassing effort in the third period Saturday night.
The next thing is I care about is who is going to step up slam the locker room door shut and call his teammates out, to bring their very best effort every night. That's the player or players I want wearing the letters on their sweaters and leading this team.
We know the Stars, we know they can score, we know that their defense is suspect and their goaltending is inconsistent. It is time for the Wild to play Wild hockey, period!
Who is it going to be that steps up, and who is on their way out, it is that time.
Let's Play Wild Hockey!!!