The Wild, which won its last five back end of back-to-backs (say that five times) last season, will get its first crack at such a scenario tonight at 9:30 p.m. CT against the winless Los Angeles Kings.
Good afternoon from L.A., where the Wild, one of four unbeaten teams in the NHL, all gathered at the Staples Center for a meeting, workout and very optional skate today.
Besides the fact Darcy Kuemper will make his season debut between the pipes tonight, the only lineup change for Minnesota will be defenseman Christian Folin getting in for Nate Prosser.
Take a look at this notebook lead for a Kuemper advance and his history in L.A. That's part of the reason he gets the start. The other reason is coach Mike Yeo doesn't want him sitting around for a month.
Devan Dubnyk (30 of his 100 career wins have come in 42 games with the Wild) will back Kuemper up. There had been some questions from Wild fans on Twitter wondering if Niklas Backstrom may back up and Dubnyk get a mental day.
Kuemper will have to be sharp tonight. In those last five back-to-backs last year, the Wild got outplayed (in my opinion) in each, but Dubnyk stood tall by allowing one goal in each of the games.
Kuemper will surely be playing behind a tired group tonight after playing last night and most notably having to kill penalties the majority of the third period. Also, coach Mike Yeo expects a desperate Kings team.
He said he feels they've been unlucky to be winless and at a minimum only having two goals in three games. He says they are creating plays and putting a lot of pucks to the net, and they just haven't gone in for them.