It stands to reason that a team trying to claw its way into an NHL playoff berth would welcome a soft spot in the schedule. Wild forward Mikko Koivu blew up that conventional wisdom Monday, before his team started a rugged stretch of games against three surging opponents.
"It will be obviously a test, a challenge," Koivu said after practice at Tria Rink. "But I think that's what we need right now. There's no better way to start building that confidence than playing good against the better teams in the league."
This week's gantlet begins Tuesday at Pittsburgh, which has won four of its past five games and sits third in the Eastern Conference. The Wild then returns home to face Tampa Bay, 9-1 in its past 10, and Central Division rival Dallas, which had won six in a row before a 2-1 loss Saturday at San Jose.
That's hardly an ideal scenario for a team that has won only once in its past six games. After sliding down the standings and further away from a playoff berth, though, the Wild cannot afford any self pity.
Koivu wasn't the only one embracing the challenge. Coach Bruce Boudreau took the same stance and shared it with the players Monday, urging them to see opportunity in the upcoming schedule.
"How do you want to look at it?" he said. "Do you want to look at it the negative way, that … 'look who we're playing?' Or do you want to look at it as, 'Hey, listen, the best way to get out of a little rut is to play the best teams and play your best games and find out that you're successful.'
"That's the way I want to take it. That's what we talked about."
Touch down
Boudreau said it's a mystery why the Wild offense has lost its scoring touch. It is averaging 1.83 goals per game in the past six games; in four of those, the Wild has managed only one goal.
