The Minnesota Wild hosts the Edmonton Oilers at home on Tuesday February 24th. The Wild have won 6 at home in a row face a team, that has the 2nd lowest points in all of the NHL with 44 and only Buffalo has les with 39. This is the true meaning of a MUST WIN.
Devan Dubnyk may go down as one of the top 5 acquisitions in the history of this club. The man is 13-2-1 with a .936 save percentage and an unbelievable 1.64 goals against. Yes, it is a team sport with everyone working together but in the end Dubnyk has the final say. I found on twitter from Per Elias: Wild goalie Dubnyk’s 16 starts to 5 shutouts for one team is fewest since 1938 (Frank Brimsek 5 in 9 starts for the Boston Bruins.)
There are so many guys stepping up including assistant captain, Zach Parise whose 2 goals in the 3rd period Sunday night vs Dallas in the Wild’s 6-2 win over Dallas now gives him 25 goals in the 3rd period in the last 2 seasons trailing only by 2 to the league leader.
Defense took a blow losing Jared Spurgeon who landed on IR Tuesday for a while. It seems when guys go down someone else steps up.
Edmonton is by far and away not the old team with Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey to name a few but they are a professional team who could win on any given night. Minnesota needs to forget about anything except for tonight and get the 2 points and stay in the playoff top 8 seeds.
Minnesota has 23 games left with 12 at home and 11 on the road. They play 16 against the West Conference and only 7 vs the East.
Minnesota is playing so well at home and needs to protect home ice the rest of the way. They travel to number 1 in the West Nashville 3 times, play 3 vs the Blues (2 away, 1 home) and one at Chicago amongst the tougher games left in the season.
I think back in January when Wild Coach, Mike Yeo’s name was repeatedly talked about his job security. I believe he has answered the bell big time.
Good luck to the Wild the rest of the way. The State of Hockey is truly ready to see Lord’s Stanley Cup in this great state of Minnesota.
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Thanks for reading
Todd Walkingstick