Effort has never been an issue with the Wild team during the 2019-20 season. Their issues have come between the pipes which once again was evident last night.

This is not a knock on Alex Stalock by any stretch. Stalock is having his finest season and has stepped up when the team has needed him most with Devan Dubnyk's up and down play combined with the health concerns of his wife Jenn weighing very heavily on the Wild's #1 guy.

The numbers do not lie though as the Wild as D7bnyk and his .892 save percentage and Stalock at .909 and an overall .906 which is below the league average. The Wild overall team defense yields far fewer scoring chances against at 5 on 5 telling us what we already know and that is the root of the problem lies with inconsistent goaltending.

Let's face the facts as much as Stalock is a great teammate and the players love going to bat for him, he is a backup goaltender and a very good one at that. He has never shown that he can handle the load of a starter but his ability to come off the bench cold is something that is rare and quite an asset to have.

In order for the Wild to make the playoffs one of two things must happen. Either Devan Dubnyk turns things around quickly and gets on a roll, which we have seen him do in the past or the Wild call up Kaapo Kahkonen and go with 3 goalies on the roster like the Rangers have done with a good deal of success so far. That is not the optimum solution of course but given the way Kahkonen played in his earlier stints this season along with his recent stellar play in Iowa that at least has to be a consideration.

We know that the Wild cannot tank the season as they are too good of a team with too much heart and compete making a run is wholeheartedly in their best interest.

Kevin Fiala is showing that Paul Fenton knew what he was getting last season at the deadline in exchange for soon to be UFA Mikael Granlund. Fiala is quickly establishing himself as possibly the second most dynamic offensive player in Wild history behind Marion Gaborik.

Fiala continued his hot streak last night with his fourth straight multi point game scoring a powerplay goal and setting up Parise for the third Wild goal. Nine points in the last four and 21 in the last 14 has changed the perspective of the Wild. Fiala is legitimately a gifted offensive player which is something that has been absent from the Wild since the aforementioned Gaborik's departure following the 2009 season.

There are still far too many veterans on this Wild team with lengthy contracts that will present Bill Guerin significant problems as he tries to remake the roster. However there are significant prospects that are going to be part of the Wild future of course beginning as early as next season when Krill Kaprizov arrives.

Last night's defeat hurts for sure but the Wild showed that the previous three game win streak was not all due to the weaker opposition. This team is in the fight and whether or not they make the dance or not will be based heavily on how well the guys in goal perform over the final 17 games of the season.

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