Nick Bjugstad and Kyle Rau, spoiled by the weather in Miami, were nevertheless excited for their latest homecoming in subzero temperatures so they could take "a breath of fresh air," Bjugstad said, not even kidding.
"They saved the coldest day of the year for us," said Bjugstad, speaking for his Florida Panthers teammate, who also skated with him for the Gophers.
Tuesday's game against the Wild was the fourth NHL game at the X for Bjugstad, the 2010 Minnesota Mr. Hockey from Blaine, and the second for Rau, the 2011 Mr. Hockey from Eden Prairie.
"This is kind of his rink. He's won a few state championships, and I haven't," Bjugstad said of Rau, who scored a triple-overtime Class 2A state final winner in 2011. "We won some big games with the Gophs, but the high school games I still have some bad memories."
Added Rau, "I definitely have some good memories here."
Both got home-cooked meals Monday night, Rau at his parents' Christmas-decorated house and Bjugstad at his uncle Tim's, where he played mini-hockey with his cousins.
Both were excited to go up against former Gophers teammate Erik Haula, although Bjugstad wasn't eager to hear Haula's chirping, "especially not scoring yet."
Bjugstad has no points and 10 shots in 11 games. It has been a perfect storm of misery this season for Bjugstad, who broke a wrist in training camp during what coach Tom Rowe called "a freak accident at West Point." He missed the first 19 games, then started at wing, not center.