The Wild opened the week a point shy of a playoff berth, but it has two more chances to improve its outlook before embarking on the All-Star break and ensuing bye week starting Monday when it visits the Golden Knights in Vegas.
"We just need points," goalie Devan Dubnyk said. "From now to the end of the season, it's going to be full playoff mode. I think I looked and there are eight teams vying for three spots essentially. Every single night is going to matter right down to the buzzer. We can't let it wear us down. We just have to understand that it's playoff hockey from here on out, and we've got to make sure we're not throwing games away."
Last week was up and down for the team; after deflating losses to the lowly Flyers and sputtering Ducks, the Wild rebounded each time with winning efforts to claim four out of a possible eight points. Perhaps this week helps reflect which version more closely represents the team.
Vegas is one of the top teams in the Western Conference and edged the Wild 2-1 in a shootout Oct.6. The Wild is just on two clubs to not suffer a regulation loss to the Golden Knights, as it went 3-0 against Vegas last season. Center Eric Staal has four goals and six points in four career games.
After Vegas, the Wild will go to Colorado to take on a division rival in the Avalanche that currently is a point ahead of the Wild for the third seed in the Central.
"Teams just don't lose that often, I feel like," winger Zach Parise said. "If you can, if you can create some separation, that would be ideal for us right now."
Projected lineup:
Jason Zucker-Mikko Koivu-Mikael Granlund
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