A crushing 4-0 loss to the Coyotes Sunday didn't mathematically eliminate the Wild from playoff contention, but that could happen Tuesday when the team hosts the Jets at Xcel Energy Center.
The Wild will be officially out if it loses, the Avalanche beats the Oilers or the Wild and Avalanche both fall in extra time.
"We're not dead yet," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We have to win. That's priority No.1. … If you don't believe, it'll never happen. But if you believe, and you keep the faith, sometimes miracles do happen."
What should encourage the Wild is it's a perfect 4-0 against Winnipeg this season, a strong track record that's been fueled by stingy defending, opportunistic scoring and steady special-teams play.
"We've played emotional games against them," Boudreau said. "Everybody's played at the top of their game. Maybe a little hangover from last year's [playoff] defeat. I don't know why we've had the 4-0 success against them that we've had. But whatever it is, we'd like to make it 5-0."
Winger Zach Parise will be a game-time decision after missing the previous four games with a lower-body injury. Parise said he felt he could play when he came off the ice Tuesday morning but explained he'd need to get clearance from the training staff before returning to the lineup.
"Better today again," he said. "So that's a good sign."
It seems unlikely the Wild will slot in center Nico Sturm after signing the college free agent to a one-year, entry-level contract Monday. Sturm skated with the group but didn't have a work visa yet.
