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Wild Record (39-13-6 84 pts)
Home Record (21-7-1)
Opponent: Chicago Blackhawks (36-18-5 77 pts)
Road Record (18-10-1)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)
Last Season Results:
10/30 Blackhawks 4 @ Wild 5
12/1 Wild 2 @ Blackhawks 1
2/21 Blackhawks 1 @ Wild 6 (TCF Bank Stadium)
3/20 Wild 3 @ Blackhawks 2 (SO)
3/29 Blackhawks 1 @Wild 4
Last result:
1/15 Wild 3 @ Blackhawks 2
2/8 Blackhawks 4 @ Wild 3 (OT)
The Blackhawks come to town having won their last six games away from United Center, including their 4-3 OT win in St. Paul 13 days ago. Since that game the Wild have increased their lead over the Blackhawks to seven points with a game in hand.
Tonight is of significant importance to Minnesota, given the fact that after tonight's game, the Wild will be headed off on their bye week. With the history of previous teams coming out of the bye week and the dismal records, it becomes even more important to go into the break on a high note.
Not that any extra hype needs to be cast upon a game with the Blackhawks, as they have been the benchmark organizational model, by which most of the league has been chasing the last eight years.
I'm sure Jeremy Roenick will be happy that Devan Dubnyk will be between the pipes for the Wild tonight, after his rant from the last meeting with the Hawks. But the point here is, who cares what Roenick or anyone from NBC thinks anyway. BB has his finger on the pulse of the Minnesota Wild, and by all accounts, it appears that he knows what he is doing.
The Wild will come out of the break with a fast and furious schedule as they push toward the playoffs. They will play 23 games in 41 days to close out the season. Darcy Kuemper will be counted on to play a significant role over that stretch as will many of the Wild depth players.
The week off is good for the players, but of course rough on us fans as we are forced to wait it out as well. Regardless of the previous records for teams coming out of the break, the break could serve the team well in the long run, as they take time off and get recharged for the stretch run.
The trade deadline is just over a week away now and with the Flames deal for Mike Stone yesterday, are there more moves to come as we head up to the day?
The Wild are in a far different position this season heading into the deadline, but Chuck Fletcher has always been one to look at any and all options to better his club. I fully expect that this year he will be active once again, despite the fact that the word out there is to the contrary.
If Fletcher can add a depth center or defenseman, without giving up a whole lot in return, or sacrificing the team chemistry in the process, it is safe to anticipate that he will make a move or two.
The Hawks and Wild have established that this is a two team race for the Central Division, and very well possibly the Western Conference. With their seven point lead the Wild have an excellent opportunity to put a strangle hold on that lead tonight, with a win.
It is no secret that the regular season means little when it comes to playoff success though. The road will have to go through Chicago at some point in the post season. That said, establishing the fact that the Wild can not only compete with the Blackhawks, but can beat them both at home and in the United Center (8-0-1 in the last 9 regular season meetings vs Chicago), will serve them well when the teams meet for real in the Spring.
Much will be made of how the Blackhawks play the regular season to get into the playoffs and that that is where they come to life. That may be the case to a degree and past performance does play into future results, but eventually there is a time that the clock strikes midnight and a new day dawns.
Similar statements were made about the Los Angeles Kings the last couple of seasons as well and they missed the playoffs and then barely snuck in and are now battling for their playoff lives once again. It just goes to show that the so called experts go by what they read on the stat pages or what happened most recently, and rarely speak highly of a contender.
Very little real analysis of a team goes into the broadcast. It is mostly surface stats and fluff. There is fact that in order to be a champion one must first beat the reigning champion. That fact is not as relevant any longer in a salary cap world, where professional sports leagues strive for parity over dynasties.
It's always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
Let's Play Hockey!
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