Wild Game Day number 27 Wild Record (14-7-5 33 pts) Road Record (4-4-4)
Opponent: Arizona Coyotes (13-14-1 27 pts) Home Record (6-4-0)
Site: Gila River Arena, Glendale, Arizona
Time: 8:00PM CT
TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)
Last Season Results: 10/23 Coyotes 0 @ Wild 2 12/13 Wild 4 @ Coyotes 3 (SO) 1/17 Coyotes 1 @ Wild 3
Last result: 10/15 Wild 4 @ Coyotes 3
The Coyotes have been somewhat of a surprise through the first third of the NHL season riding strong goaltending and the young talent of Max Domi and Anthony Duclair. Their fortunes however have changed of late as they have dipped below the .500 level for the first time all season. They have dropped 5 in a row all on the road, but they are returning home where they are riding a 4 game winning streak in the desert.
The Coyotes have been outscored 24-10 in their last 5 overall but in their last 4 at home they have outscored their opponents 14-7. They have played just 4 of their last 14 at home so the dip may be a bit deceiving.
The Wild have not lost in regulation in their last four going 3-0-1 and yielding just 3 goals over those four contests. Darcy Kuemper will again be in goal for the Wild as Devan Dubnyk deals with a minor groin strain. The team appears to have gotten back to their roots of protecting their own zone first and creating offensive opportunities off of a strong puck possession game.
Following Monday's OT loss in Denver, Mike Yeo elected to have the team travel back to Minnesota to get some practice time in. He used that time to work on the two troubling areas the team has had so far this season, the power play and 3 on 3.
Special teams play a big part in how games are ultimately decided especially in the ultra competitive Central Division. The Wild have squandered 5 potential points in the standings in 3 on 3 OT losses, including 4 within the division. The powerplay is operating at just over 18% and the penalty kill is just over 75% with the same personnel as a year ago where they led the league in PK.
One of the things the Wild really need to do different on the PP is get better shots and more of them. The first unit establishes possession in the zone on a regular basis but they are held to the perimeter by the opponent who freely allows them to pass the puck around the outside of the zone or behind the net as the Wild look for that perfect pass through a seem that is completely closed off. The solution comes when the second unit hits the ice. They have a much simpler approach move the puck quickly and open up opportunities for mainly Matt Dumba or his defensive partner of choice for that particular PP, Spurgeon or Scandella, to fire it from the point. The result is usually a much better scoring opportunity or lately a powerplay goal!
The majority of the Wild power play success through the first third of this season and the playoffs last season was due to the effectiveness of the second unit. The Wild are a very skilled and deep team and these are details they will need to sharpen as the season progresses. Playoffs are no guarantee so every point is too important to let slip away.
Tonight the Wild could be running into a buzz saw as the Coyotes will come out fired up after a tough road trip. They will be ready from the get go and expect this to be a dog fight right to the end. This is not a time for the Wild to let up, it's more like the time to kick the dog while it's down.
Let's Play Hockey!