Four losses in a row, and Wild's searching for somebody (or someones) to step up

On Nov. 1, the Wild jumped to the top of the Central Division. That lasted 24 hours. Thanks to four losses in a row since – the latest coming Tuesday, 3-1, at New Jersey, the Wild's now fifth in the Central – eight points behind Nashville.

"It's big," Thomas Vanek said. "It's November, but you lose the points now, it's tough to gain them later."

The Wild has lost its way since the injuries to Zach Parise and Jared Spurgeon, and luckily, they could be coming to the rescue Thursday against Buffalo.

But coach Mike Yeo made clear after tonight's loss that this slump goes beyond the absence of Parise, Spurgeon and Matt Cooke. He said the Wild has almost forgotten how tough it is to win in this league and it's getting a good reminder now.

Maybe it's not a coincidence, but the three young teams who have been hyped and are considered up-and-comers in the division – Minnesota, Colorado and Dallas – are all struggling right now. It's almost like players think it'll come easy and forgot how much commitment it takes every game to win in this difficult league.

The Wild certainly has. The Wild's M.O. at the start of the year was work ethic. Maybe they followed the leader (Parise), which is possible, but whatever the reason, the Wild played pretty complete, hard-working games the first 10 games of the season (OK, forget the third against the Rangers). But that 7-3 start is now officially history as the Wild returns to wintry Minnesota with a very disappointing 7-7 record.

The Wild lauds its depth, yet nobody has stepped up and taken the reins without Parise, Spurgeon and Cooke.

The one great shot he did take tonight hit the post, then almost rolled over the line after it hit Cory Schneider. Almost. That unbelievably bad puck luck was exemplified moments later when Jaromir Jagr skated around Vanek and set up Mike Cammalleri for the eventual winner – a 2-0 lead.

The Wild hasn't held a lead in 240 minutes. The second period, which was the Wild's best the first 10 games, has been a disaster the past four. All three games on the road trip were scoreless after the first period only to be unraveled in the second.

The Wild's power play is still a disaster. 0 for 4 tonight, including one in the third with a chance to tie tonight. And that was to the 30^th-ranked overall penalty kill and 30^th-ranked home penalty kill, one that had only NOT given up a power-play goal in two previous games this season.

The Wild's power play is now 2 for 44 this season and 0 for 29 in eight road games.

This Koivu situation is a major problem. One assist for the all-time leading scorer in franchise history. One. In 14 games. This Vanek situation is a major problem. One goal and not scoring goals in moments where the Wild most need him.

Yeo didn't want to single out players when asked about Koivu and Vanek.

Coyle is in a bigtime slump. Not just not scoring (no goals since Oct. 23). He's just showing little bite right now. Yeo did say he felt it was a lack of confidence just like the team.

"I don't see a lot of confidence," Yeo said. "Similar to our entire group. Wins haven't come. Goals haven't come. Not scoring has been a huge factor here. You can do a lot of things right and then you're not scoring goals and then you're not feeling too good about your game. We got some Grade A chances tonight (Chief among them, Vanek to Haula on a 2-on-0 with 5 ½ left, and Haula was robbed) that don't go in the net. That gets in your head. We're going to have to fight through this and earn our confidence."

Coyle said, "Everyone goes through slumps like this. I had a little lapse like this last year. Same thing I wasn't scoring, wasn't putting up points. I just have to get back to playing my physical game. I can't focus on goals. That's when you'll continue to struggle. I've got to focus on the process and play to your strengths. Play physical and get my nose dirty."

Before the first goal tonight by New Jersey, the Zucker-Koivu-Coyle line buzzed and buzzed. Again, no goals though and the Devils come right down and score when Seth Helgeson, who made his NHL debut, took a shot that Tuomo Ruutu deflected for the former Gophers defenseman's first career assist.

Coyle said it's frustrating the way the team is playing, but the players have to stay positive, stay on an even keel and get back to basics. But he did say astutely tonight was a totally missed opportunity, that playing a team that played on the road the night before, if the Wild showed up in the first two periods and forechecked the heck out of them, they probably could have capitalized more in the third.

"We've got to get back to outworking teams, outshooting teams and creating chances and burying puck," Coyle said.

Big game vs. Buffalo to try to get back on track Thursday before it heads to Dallas, where the Wild has won once since I have been the beat writer.

"We've lost four in a row. If we're looking past anything right now, that would be kind of foolish," Yeo said. "We have to dig deep here. It's as simple as that. I know that sounds awfully cliché. We're the only ones that are going to get ourselves out of this. We're not going to get out of it by trying to make a fancy play or trying to outskill teams. We have skill in the lineup that can be effective if we're playing a certain way. We have to remember, it's hard to score in this league. Teams defend well. They all play a system. We have to get some dirty goals, we have to get some pucks to the net, we have to find a way to create more."