Two interesting things have happened during this suddenly promising Wild season:
• The Wild has begun looking like a well-coached team.
• The Wild has begun looking like a well-coached team, and Todd Richards is still standing behind the bench.
The Wild beat Los Angeles in a shootout on Tuesday night at the X, improving its record to 13-6-1 in its past 20 games, and moving temporarily into the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference.
Last year -- Richards' first on the job -- he failed to produce a playoff team for an owner, Craig Leipold, who expects playoff teams.
Richards sometimes appeared too inexperienced or nice or unassuming for a job once manned by the legendary Jacques Lemaire. Then Richards' second team played poorly in the exhibition season, and on Oct. 16, the Wild lost 3-2 at home to Columbus, displaying little heart or grit. The Wild stood at 1-2-1 through four games.
The obvious question became: How long would Richards' last?
The coach countered with a question of his own: Just how long can you skate?