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Donato Impresses, Wild Face Wings

February 22, 2019, 2:46 PM ET [4 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
If first impressions are lasting Ryan Donato is going to fit in nicely. The kid had two assists and three shots on goal in just under 17 minutes of play in his Wild debut.

Donato has a shoot first mentality, a trait the Wild have been lacking seemingly forever.

The message that rang true to me all game last night as Donato teamed with Joel Eriksson Ek and Luke Kunin, was the kids are playing together because the only thing constant is these guys aren't going anywhere.

Tonight the Wild have another winnable matchup facing the Red Wings in Detroit. Of course we don't have to look too far back to see where the Wings came to St. Paul and smacked the Wild 5-2 in January.

With the win last night the Wild jumped back into the final playoff spot once again.

Without a significant number of changes to the lineup a playoff berth is actually another step in the wrong direction. I am never an advocate of losing or playing not to win, however the Wild prospect pool is not deep and having a higher pick lends to a brighter future.

Devan Dubnyk was good last night, as long as you take out the Rangers lone goal which was awful stalock showed that he cannot be relied upon so moving forward unless Dubnyk returns to form the Wild have no shot at the playoffs regardless of current standings.

Either way seeing the kids get more ice time and watching them progress makes the Wild so much more entertaining regardless of the outcomes.

Now can Fenton move any more of the current roster before Monday?

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

Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17
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