Wild Game Day number 32 Wild Record (17-8-6 40 pts) Home Record (12-3-1)
Opponent: Dallas Stars (24-2-2 50 pts) Road Record (11-3-2)
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) 11/28 Stars 4 @ Wild 3 (OT)
The Wild get another crack at the Stars tonight at home, looking to avenge the two OT losses the Stars have dealt them in the two previous meetings this season. The Stars lethal combination of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and John Klingberg have been the deciding factor in both games.
Benn, Seguin, and Klingberg have scored for five of the seven Stars goals in the two games played thus far, accounting for 13 points total between them. The Wild are not the only team to be victimized by these three, as Benn and Seguin are tied for 2nd in scoring with 44 points apiece and Klingberg is tied with Seguin for third in the league with 26 assists.
Last time these teams met in Minnesota the Wild jumped out to a 3-0 lead and really set the tempo early. It seemed right after Jason Pominville scored his 1st of the year 1:11 into the second period a collective sigh of relief fell on the Wild and they stopped playing their game. The Stars outshot them 19-8 in the second period, then 16-7 in the third eventually tying the game at 3 before Seguin won it in OT.
Minnesota has played the Stars well and have shown that they can dictate the flow of play if they stick to their game plan. If they try to get into a run and gun with the Stars that is when things open up and the result is very much in doubt.
The Stars have the best record in hockey due in large part because of their offense. The defense is susceptible to turnovers and the goaltending is better than it has been but still not yet a strength. Offense is great in the regular season, but in order to win when it counts you have to be able to shut down your opponent.
Tonight is a great test for the Wild to work on the shut down portion of the game. As we know the Stars can bring it and bring it often and very fast. The Wild need to clamp it down and create off the counter attack. That is Wild hockey and tonight it should be on full display at the X, with the State of Hockey faithful generating lots of noise.
Mikko Koivu had 3 goals and 5 assists in the three Wild games last week earning him the NHL third star of the week. Congratulations Mikko, the Captain has been very consistent all year with his team leading 29 points, but his true leadership is measured in the team standings. The Wild have played 3 fewer games than the Blues and 4 fewer than the Blackhawks who both have 44 points to the Wild 40. The Stars sit atop the division with 50 points and have played 2 more games that the Wild, so tonight is a big game for Minnesota if they have any thoughts of winning the division.
Let's Play Hockey!