Torchetti to play Wild regulars Saturday if healthy

Now that the Wild is locked into the No. 8 position in the West for the NHL playoffs, coach John Torchetti must decide how to approach Saturday's regular-season finale against Calgary.

Should key players be rested, or do they need to play to remain sharp? Clearly, Torchetti is trying to get his team a break — both mental and physical — heading into Saturday's game at Xcel Energy Center. He gave the players Wednesday off, and Thursday's skate at Ridder Arena was optional.

"We used a lot of energy," Torchetti said of his team, which went 15-10-1 since he took over for Mike Yeo. That stretch included a six-game winning streak and two streaks of four wins. But the Wild has lost its past four games.

"It's a lot to go through, what this team has gone through in seven weeks," Torchetti continued.

"From the change to getting re-energized. And the pressures of winning and losing and making the playoffs."

So, then, more rest for some players Saturday?

Not necessarily.

Bottom line is if a player is healthy, he will play Saturday. If someone is banged-up, even if only a little, they likely won't.

But what about goaltender Devan Dubnyk?

Torchetti said Dubnyk needs to play some Saturday to stay sharp with the playoffs not starting until either Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Dubnyk will probably start the game, but give way to Darcy Kuemper at some point.

Meanwhile, Torchetti and the coaching staff has begun thinking about how to structure practices leading up to the playoff opener. The coaches have to decide how much scrimmaging to do to keep the team sharp. Much will depend on what day the team's first-round series begins.

"We've gone over a few scenarios," Torchetti said.

"Day-by-day, that's how we'll keep it," Torchetti said. "Today wasn't good results for him. So we'll have to wait and see. The healing could take a day, it could take three, it could take another seven."

• Torchetti was asked if it was difficult to try to prepare for two potential playoff opponents, in his case Dallas and St. Louis. The Wild has played St. Louis once since Torchetti took over, but not Dallas. "It really isn't," he said. "I mean, you go into it studying the games you played against 'em," he said. "And I haven't played Dallas. But we'll figure it out. It will sort itself out. We have to wait until [the seedings are] done and then go from there."

• The Wild would have found out its first-round playoff opponent Thursday night had Dallas won and St. Louis lost in regulation, but the Blues made the Stars' 4-2 victory over Colorado moot by getting a late tying goal at Chicago before beating the Blackhawks 2-1 in overtime. Instead, the top spot in the West will be decided Saturday night. Dallas plays host to Nashville, while the St. Louis plays host to Eastern Conference No. 1 seed Washington.