The trade deadline is behind us and the Wild got an unexpected break once again due to the unrest here in Minnesota. They will get back at it today with a matinee battle against the Coyotes.

Arizona's playoff hopes are beginning to fade a bit with their current four game losing streak. They find themselves just a point back of St. Louis for the final playoff position, but have played two more games than the Blues and have just 13 games remaining.

The Wild on the other hand are looking to solidify their playoff position in the Honda/West Division standings, where they currently sit 3rd, 7 points back of Vegas and 7 points in front of St. Louis.

Bill Guerin sat the trade deadline out, making the wise decision to not tinker with the roster that has gotten the Wild to this point. Yes, he knows that this team Is not a finished product, however there was no need to upset the chemistry that they have formed, or part with any prospects or future draft picks for rentals.

There were a lot of deals made and some real head scratchers to say least but at the end of the day the Wild roster is as it was prior to the deadline and the players can focus all of their attention on winning games now. There will be a time that Bill Guerin makes deadline deals but as he said that time is not yet here.

Every game is big from here on out and the style of play is being ramped up to playoff intensity. With all division games that should make the last month of the NHL season a real blast.

Expect Arizona to come out with a chip on their shoulder as they must win now. Coyotes head coach, Rick Tocchet will have his team fired up and looking to avenge the last three Wild wins over his club last month. They know that in order to make the playoffs beating the teams directly ahead of them are mission critical.

The Wild have 16 games remaining with 10 of those on home ice, where they have lost just four of the eighteen they have played to date. Having fans in the building should only enhance that moving forward.

There are no gimme games in the NHL and the Wild are not good enough to win on talent alone. They have gotten to this point playing a solid team structured game with everyone chipping in and pulling his own weight. That needs to continue as we head down the stretch and final quarter of the season.

Kevin Fiala will return to the Wild lineup today after missing the last game in St. Louis and the bigger addition will be the return of Marcus Foligno, who has been out since March 12th, missing the last 15 games.

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

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