Tonight is the back end of the home and home from the Blue Jackets perspective while the Wild played last night in Detroit. Tuesday's game will be fresh on the mind of both clubs however it may be more so for Columbus who stormed back from a 4-1 deficit in the third to get to within one and were pushing forbthtying goal before Kevin Fiala gave the Wild some insurance. Columbus was not finished as they once again got within a goal but could not get any closer.

It was not due to a lack of effort and it appeared to be one of those games that had it gone on much longer the result may have very well been different for both clubs.

Playoffs are the name of the game for both teams with Columbus sitting very tentatively in the final Eastern Conference wildcard position while the Wild still remain 3 points out of the final Western Conference playoffs with a couple teams sitting between themselves and eighth place.

The Blue Jackets sit just two points ahead of the surging New York Rangers and Carolina Hirricanes, with both of those teams having multiple games in hand on Columbus. A 1-4-5 last 10 for the Blie Jackets has done very little to help their playoff chances.

The Wild on the other hand have caught some fire of late and are playing a much more inspired up tempo game. Led by Kevin Fiala who has climbed up to tie Eric Staal for the points lead for the Wild with 45. In the last 12 games Fiala has scored half of his 18 goals and added eight assists making many forget about the negative feelings they had about the 2019 deadline deal that sent Granlund to Nashville in exchange for Fiala.

Of course last night Granlund exacted some revenge on his former mates by scoring with under one second to play to send the Predators Flames contest into OT and securing points for both of the current Western Conference wildcard place holders. Granlund was not done as he netted thebOT winner as well and has come on of late himself with four goals and seven points over his last seven games.

Tonight should be some good hockey as the Wild and Blue Jackets square off, both in desperate need of the two points. The inter conference match makes it less about winning in regulation for the combatants, it is all about who comes out on top at the end of the night.

Minnesota took care of business as expected last night ripping the lowly Red Wings 7-1. Tonight will be far different but a good opportunity for the Wild to dish out some of what has bitten them of late. That being teams playing the Wild on the back half of two games on consecutive nights where the Wild had lost four in a row in that same scenario before turning the tide with their win Tuesday over Columbus.

Last night's lopsided victory did allow Dean Evason to roll his lines throughout the night and he got production up and down the lineup.

Mikko Koivu and his linemates are scorching hot with the captain getting two goals Tuesday and passing two helpers last night. Ryan Donato continues his hot hand with a goal and assist in each of the last two while the third member of the trio Ryan Hartman has a goal and three assists.

Matt Dumba is looking more like the guy we saw last season and don't look now but after last night's multi goal game for the Wild blueliner he now has 24 points and 11 points in the last 16 Wild contests. Dumba is shooting more and his shots are much more accurate and timely.

The key tonight will be how Devan Dubnyk performs in the Wild bet. It is no secret that the Wild goaltending has been less than spectacular all season so getting both guys going is critical to the Wild's chances of making the dance.

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

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