The Wild have won the first two games of the seven game homestand and are coming off their most dominant performance of the season, Saturday's 7-0 defeat of the Stars.

Saturday's victory may have seemed impressive and not to take anything away from the Wild it is just 2 points in the standings. It really was one of those games where the law of averages kind of evens things out a bit more than the Wild dominating their division rivals from Dallas.

Minnesota was do for some good fortune in the offensive zone and on the powerplay as well. They have been playing some competitive hockey of late and the points have been a little harder to come by. On Saturday the planets aligned and the pucks found the back of the net early and often against a normally stingy Stars defense and goaltending.

Nothing to get overly hyped about as the Wild still find themselves in last place in the Central and seven points out of the final playoff position. Wins are all that matter right now for the Wild. It is nice to have two solid victories 7nder their belt but tonight is another opportunity where two points are required for the Wild to have any thoughts of moving up the standings.

Alex Stalock will again be in goal for the Wild as he has asserted himself as at least for the time being as 1A between the pipes.

Another observation from Saturday was absence of the captain, Koivu was out with an illness, and the Wild played a much faster game once again. This comes on the heels of Koivu's demotion to the fourth line in the previous win over Tampa.

Koivu has been a warrior for the Wild so this is not a time to rip on the leader and workhorse of the team. It is more a changing of the guard that is happening and Koivu understanding and embracing his role moving forward.

No one comes to the rink more prepared than Koivu nor with the heart and desire to win even in practice. Those characteristics have endeared Mikko to every single coach that he has ever played for as well as the State of Hockey faithful. The hard part for all parties involved is just how to get Koivu into the position that he can best help the Wild move forward while not losing his intensity and leadership.

Just throw that into the never ending challenges that Bruce Boudreau has on his plate here in the final year of his contract with the Wild which coincidentally is also Koivu's as well.

Florida is in town tonight riding a four game win streak of their own and having won 11 of their last 15. Much like Tampa was on Thursday, the Panthers bring a high powered offense that comes at opponents in waves. Speed will be a factor for the Wild and if they think that the goals will be as easy to come by as they were Saturday night the result tonight may not be as favorable.

The Wild have life and are good enough to make some noise and to put a scare into the opposition on a nightly basis, time to put it together and end the Panthers streak and continue their own.

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

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