If you are looking for signs that the 2021 version of the Minnesota Wild is dramatically different than previous years, look no further than last night's game.
Yes the Wild a legitimately a good hockey team. Are they ready and capable of winning a 7-game series over a true top tier team probably not, however they are showing everyone that this team Is legit.
Last night the Wild played a determined and hungry Arizona squad, who by all accounts outplayed the Wild. For sure not one of the Wild's best efforts and yet great goaltending from Cam Talbot allowed the team to come away with the 4-1 victory.
On the scoreboard it appeared that the better team prevailed quite easily and finished off the Coyotes for the seventh time in eight meetings. That was hardly the case by any stretch.
In years past the Wild would lose games like that because they were not good enough to overcome the weaker opponent on paper outplaying them. Now they have finishers in Kaprizov and Fiala, they have 4 lines that all contribute to go along with the stellar defense corps we have known and loved for so long. Now the picture is competed by outstanding goaltending from both Talbot and Kahkonen.
The playoffs are all but sealed for the Wild and now it is just positioning that is to play for. But it is far more than that as this team is looking to establish itself in the upper echelon category and that will be defined in the post season.
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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