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FINLAND…. The Minnesota Wild were knocking on opportunities door Monday eve out in the Rain City but the Vancouver Canucks wouldn’t open the door and went on to prevail 3-2 in an NHL Western Conference battle. A win would have tied the Wild with the Canucks in the standings and in the race for a playoff position. However, from the first period forward the Wild were out-hit, out-physicaled, and just about out-everythinged in this all important game. Even considering that, the club did get the first tally of the game which is usually a great sign for any team, especially for a road game. 

Twin Cities native and Wild forward Jordan Schroeder (former Canuck property) put on a burst of speed coming down the right wing and threw a cross ice feed right above the crease to Nino Neiderreiter who deflected the biscuit in for the opening score. The Canucks would go on to notch the next 3 goals before the Wild would close the gap late on a 2nd tally from El Nino’ with 6:25 left to play in the 3rd. The Wild put on a furious rally late with Devan Dubnyk pulled from the net but couldn’t finish, the last 40 seconds in particular were nail biting to say the least. So, where to from here for the club?

Upon reading a post game story and in particular some of the reader commentary, the world is coming to an end for some of them. They have their usual players they focus in and then go on to rant about their woeful inadequacies in the preceding tilt. While I get that, the team is still very much in the hunt for a spot. When the team made their recent acquisition of Dubnyk, he started to revive the team fortunes and then the hopes of a playoff spot followed, and I took a look at where the team was at and assessed their chances. It wasn’t going to be easy, but then I knew that they weren’t going to have to go unbeaten the rest of the way to get in. In fact, even after last nights loss to the Canuckleheads they are still very much on task to get into the Stanley Cup tournament. 

Here is why; at the 50 game mark, a 3-0 Wild victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, the team stood at 54 points. They were still on the outside looking in and still are, however with 32 games to go, if it takes about 95 points to get a wildcard spot, if the team goes, lets say, 20-11-1 they get a spot. Given the teams current win percentage in their most recent sample size, they would prevail. Since the Hawks tilt the club has gone 4-1-1 and are at 63 points. They are 8-1-1 in their L10, making them one of the hottest teams in the league. They still might need 32 points out of a possible 52 in the final 26 tilts. 16-10, or a variation thereof  to get to 32 points is a doable benchmark. 

Who are they battling with and how are they doing recently? A suddenly revived Winnipeg team is in the 7th position with 59 Games played and 70 points. A fading San Jose Shark club is at 58GP with  66 points. (4-4-2 L10) Right behind them and right ahead of the Wild are the defending Champion LA Kings with 56GP and 64pts. (6-4 L10) Then the Wild at 56GP and 63pts. A win in VAN would have been nice last night because now the Wild go into Calgary tomorrow eve to play the very hot Flames who are at 57GP and 67 pts and are at 7-3 in their L10. This is going to a very tough game. 

Tucked in behind the Wild are the Dallas NorthStars with 56GP and 60 pts respectively, however they lost NHL Superstar scorer Tyler Seguin to a knee injury on a very dirty low hit last week. How will that club play without him? It’s up in the air. Then there are the hot and cold Colorado Avalanche at 57GP and 59 pts. They are 5-4-1 in their L10 and post a -12 in Goals differential. Never say never but I think they are out along with the NorthStars. 

That leaves the Wild and the Kings to battle for the spot that I believe the Sharks will vacate in due time. Can the Wild do that? Will the Sharks continue their poor play? In performing a simple won-loss mathematical analysis, utilizing overall win percentages, home win percentages and road win percentages, and in examining games remaining here is the current scoop; the Kings are at 26-30 with 26 games left (16 road/10 home) and based on current percentages I see them obtaining another 23 points for an 87 point final standing. 

The Wild have 26 games remaining (13 road/13 home) and I see them getting 26 points for an 89 point finish. The Sharks are 29-29 and have 24 games remaining (13 road/11 home) and I believe they will get 24 points for a 90 point finish. That analysis is based on mathematical formula of my own devices. However, then there is the reality of the situation. In the Sharks remaining games they will play 14 games against teams that are as good or better then they are. This will factor in. For the Kings, likewise, out of their remaining tilts 14 of them are against stout competition. But with them you never know what is going to happen, they will either steamroll those teams like it’s a scrimmage or lose with a lethargic performance. 

The Wild have 17 tough games in front of them in their remaining schedule. This will test the mettle of this team like never before. Should GM Chuck Fletcher have made a goaltender move sooner then he did? Can Devan Dubnyk continue to play at the levels he has thus far? We will have the answers before long and I guess this is what makes being a fan so much fun. I‘m concerned the Wild may have incurred too much damage in December and part of January to make it, but I‘m going to be optimistic. Lets hope the teams overall run continues forth…. PEACE

MFAN EXTRA; I have heard a lot of talk about my Montreal Habs lately that they wouldn‘t be that good of a team without Goaltender Carey Price. And these statements coming from several Canadian and American alleged hockey experts! So I ask; how many good or great teams has there ever been that DIDN‘T have a pretty good tender‘? I’ll take my answer off the air! OVER & OUT!