The Wild have re-signed defenseman, Jon Merrill to a new three year contract with an AAV of $1.2M per year. Merrill has been a solid addition and significant upgrade to the Wild's third defense pair and often this season has filled in on the top two units. Merrill has three goals and eight assists through 33 games while being a very dependable shut down and shot blocking defenseman.

On Saturday we saw a very improbable victory from the Wild as they once again made the third period comeback to tie the Caps before winning it in the shootout.

With nine regulars out of the Wild lineup it was a test of will and determination for the Wild and for Dean Evason and his coaching staff.

The turning point of Saturday's win was the goal that Washington gifted the Wild when all looked hopeless. With the Capitals about to go onto the powerplay and goalie, Zach Fucale, pulled in favor of the extra attacker on the delayed penalty, Caps forward Karl Hagelin fired a pass out to the point, and it went all the way down the ice into the open cage. Marcus Foligno was credited with the goal, his 100th in the NHL.

That gaffe gave the Wild life and they came out a different squad in the third period, establishing better zone time and closing the shot differential.

Kevin Fiala took three very bad penalties in the second period and earned his place on the Wild bench in the third period, despite the already depleted Wild lineup. Evason had no intention of putting Fiala back into the game at all. Fiala took the punishment as a professional and supported the team as a solid teammate.

However Fiala talked to Evason and was given the opportunity to get back onto the ice. He came up big with an assist on Mats Zuccarello's tying goal and then scored a beauty in the shootout.

Is this a turning point in the ever evolving maturation process of Kevin Fiala?

Time will tell, but the guy can play the game and when he plays within the system he is a huge asset to the Wild. In Fiala's defense he has not been given a whole lot to work with and it is no secelretbthe Wild need to add a center that can work with Fiala.

Kaapo Kahkonen was again sparkling in the Wild net despite a potential disaster late in the third when he failed to clear the puck out of the zone and created a frantic situation just prior to the final buzzer.

Matt Boldy again played a strong game showing that he has what it takes to play at this level. He sees the ice very well and really appeared to gain more confidence with the puck as the game progressed. He did have a few instances of over passing the puck, but that is expected from a young player playing in just his second NHL game.

With the Wild off until Friday Boldy was assigned to the Taxi squad and Marco Rossi was reassigned to Iowa. With Joel Eriksson Ek not on IR any longer and the potential for Jordan Greenway and Brandon Duhaime to return along with Alex Goligoski the Wild are beginning to get healthy again.

This team has now won two straight after their five game skid, and the light schedule could work a bit in their favor now to get some of the walking wounded back without missing too much significant game action. That said the condensed schedule that will result may cause its own set of issues, but that is topic for another time.

For now the Wild must prepare for a very good Ducks team that currently sit in 2nd place in the Pacific Division with 19 wins and 45 points in the standings.

In Wild related news long time Wild depth defenseman and all around class act Nate Prosser has officially retired from hockey. The Elk River native carved out a fairly a 12 year professional career playing in 360 NHL games primarily with the Wild, six in Philadelphia and one with the Blues. Prosser was a tremendous teammate who could be a healthy scratch for weeks at a time and step into the lineup like he was playing every day. Best wishes for what is the next chapter for Nate!

Update: Wild have waived Rem Pitlick who had been the odd guy out lately and only got into the lineup due to all the injuries the Wild have suffered lately.

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