The Wild begin a critical three game California road trip with a big opportunity to move into playoff position and control their own fate moving forward.

After a rough opening month of the season on the road the Wild also have an opportunity to draw their road record to .500 with a win tonight in San Jose.

Revenge will be on the minds of the Wild as the Sharks shut out the Wild 2-0 in Dean Evason's head coaching debut back on February 15th in St. Paul. You will recall the Wild controlled much of the contest yet could not solve Martin Jones. The game was scoreless into the third period when Brent Burns sent a shot to the net that Dylan Gambrell deflected past Alex Stalock before Melkar Karlsson sealed it with the empty netter late. The Wild outshot the Sharks by a nearly 2:1 margin 39-21 but Martin Jones was the story of the game.

That will be fresh on the minds of the Wild along with the renewed confidence the team is playing with. Their is a sense of confidence with contributions coming from up and down the lineup. Mikko Koivu is totally embracing his role on the fourth line while still being effective winning key face-offs and shutting opponents down in the big spots.

Kevin Fiala is playing lights out offense and defense, taking the team to a new level of offensive confidence every time he is on the ice. Five straight multiple point games for Fiala and 11 points in those contests.

Stalock is holding down the fort for the Wild and the play on the ice is inspiring. They appear to be a team that is playing very confidently and loose, no squeezing of the stick for this bunch as they know they can make it into the dance, it all boils down to their own performance on the ice.

It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!

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