0:50While the Wild could certainly use a few standout individual performances in Game 5 to stave off elimination, a by-committee approach is what the team feels will give it the best chance to persevere against the Jets Friday in Game 5 at Bell MTS Place after falling behind 3-1 in the first-round, best-of-seven series.
"I think when we've been successful, we've had the whole team playing well," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We're not a team that can survive with eight players playing good and the rest just being mediocre. We have to have everybody on board. We have to have everybody going and when we have everybody going from the goaltender on out, we're usually successful."
The lineup the Wild will utilize to try to force a Game 6 back in Minnesota will be unlike any it's used so far in the series. Defenseman Ryan Murphy will draw in, as will winger Kyle Rau. These changes were made to try to spark a Wild offense that came up emptyhanded in Game 4, as the Jets blanked the team 2-0.
In 21 games during the regular season, Murphy had two goals and three assists. Rau chipped in an assist in three games with the Wild.
"There's no guy more deserving than him, just based on how hard he works and the mentality he's had all season," defenseman Nick Seeler said of Rau. "I grew up playing with him, and he's been the same way since he was s squirt. He's a competitor. He loves to compete. I can't say enough good things about him. I'm just excited for him to get this opportunity. I think he's going to do very well."
The Wild is 11-8 when facing elimination and 4-6 all-time in Game 5s.
"We've played a lot of big games this year," center Matt Cullen said. "Obviously this is the biggest, but it's on each guy right now to bring his best game. When we've been in these do-or-die situations throughout the course of the season, we've played some pretty solid games and I think we're a group that will rise to the occasion."
Projected Wild lineup:
