First place in the West, a 21-point cushion on a playoff spot, willing to go "all-in" on a headline-making trade, perhaps things were just too cushy for the Wild.
Excited to put forth a full lineup one day after acquiring Martin Hanzal and Ryan White, the Wild was naturally struck with its second mumps outbreak in three seasons.
That stunning news, along with Zac Dalpe being plucked off waivers, put Monday's lineup against the Los Angeles Kings into a state of chaos. But despite a mishmash bunch of lines that included one forward playing his third game in three days and the team coming off its five-day bye, the Wild nobly rallied four times from one-goal deficits for the third time in franchise history during an exhilarating 5-4 overtime win.
"Sometimes you have to just grit it out and let emotion take over, and I think that's what we did," coach Bruce Boudreau said after the Wild's 40th victory to move three points up on Chicago with two games in hand.
Leading scorer Mikael Granlund, playing his 300th career game, scored the fastest overtime goal in franchise history. Just 12 seconds into 3-on-3, Granlund single-handedly beat a quartet of Kings earning a collective $35.45 million for a highlight-reel, 20th goal of the season.
Granlund skated through Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Drew Doughty before gorgeously tucking a breakaway goal by Jonathan Quick. In typical understated tone, Granlund said, "There was just a little lane, room in the middle and I got lucky there weren't any sticks there. Yeah. Nice two points."
Boudreau said, "Every time he touches the puck, I think he has the ability to make a play or put it in the net."
The Wild, 5-2-1 on its eight-game homestand, avoided consecutive regulation losses for the first time since Nov. 1 and 5. The Wild has won nine straight games following a loss (15-3-2 this season).