Three years ago, coach Bruce Boudreau was at the helm of an Anaheim Ducks team that started the season 1-7-2.
Five of those losses were shutouts.
"We knew that if we continued to play really good defense, that we were going to starting scoring," Boudreau said. "And we did."
Not only did the Ducks start to put the puck in the net, they ended up surging to the top of the Pacific Division – a turnaround that Boudreau is reminded of as the Wild embarks on the four-day holiday break stuck in an offensive rut amid a four-game losing streak after a 2-1 loss to the Stars Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
"This is a very similar situation in that if you look at how many goals we're giving up and how many chances we're giving up and then if that can continue," Boudreau said, "eventually the shots from [Eric] Staal in the slot and [Mikael] Granlund in the slot and [Zach] Parise in the slot, they're going to start going in."
Despite testing Dallas goalie Ben Bishop 31 times, the Wild scored just once for the second straight game and third time in its last four.
Its lone tally didn't register until late in regulation when winger Jason Zucker finally solved Bishop, wiring in a loose puck just outside the crease.
"It was nice to finally break through and get one," Zucker said. "Felt like Granny, Staal and I have been fighting it a little bit and battling."