WINNIPEG — The rematch has arrived.
After a tense tussle last week that resulted in three fights and a suspension, the Wild and Jets are reuniting Wednesday at Canada Life Centre for their final clash of the regular season on the heels of that feisty 2-0 loss for the Wild on Feb.8.
"We do want to dictate how the game's played," coach Dean Evason said, "and hopefully teams have to react to how we play the game and that's honest, straight-up, physical, with the skill set hopefully that allows us to have success."
Winger Marcus Foligno and Winnipeg's Adam Lowry were in two of those fights, and Foligno was suspended for kneeing Lowry in the second bout. He sat out two games and will return to action on Wednesday, rejoining longtime linemates Jordan Greenway and Joel Eriksson Ek.
Goalie Cam Talbot will be back in net, continuing the Wild's recent trend of rotating its netminders, and the team will pair up Jon Merrill and Alex Goligoski on the blue line. Defenseman Matt Dumba (lower-body injury) remains out along with winger Nick Bjugstad (broken finger).
That loss to the Jets was the first time this season the Wild was shut out. In two games since then, the Wild has racked up a total of 10 goals.
"They did a great job of boxing out," Evason said of Winnipeg. "I think they were committed to being physical. They were committed to keeping us away from the front of the net."
Not only has the Wild rediscovered its 5-on-5 scoring, but the power play has also capitalized — delivering three goals on Monday in the 7-4 win over the Red Wings.
