Wild ready to rest up during five-day break

Even factoring in the team's late-game collapse against the Canucks that led to an eventual 3-2 overtime loss Sunday at Xcel Energy Center, the Wild has been on a roll lately.

It's added at least a point in eight of its last 10 games, a 6-2-2 run that moved it into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference and just two points shy of the Blues for the third seed in the Central Division.

But the team still feels the mandatory five-day break it begins Monday is coming at the right time.

"I think everybody is excited," goalie Devan Dubnyk said. "It's always a good opportunity during the season, especially with this past week playing a lot of games. Everybody is going to do their different things, and we'll be refreshed and ready to go to continue our play here."

This was a draining week for the Wild; after securing a point in an overtime loss to the Flames Tuesday, it rallied for a critical regulation win the next night in Chicago over the Blackhawks.

It had one of its better efforts of the season in a 4-1 victory over another division rival Saturday in the Jets and while the team's play was a bit uneven against the Canucks, the Wild still had enough to gain a point and enter the break in a groove.

"I think we're getting the rest when we need it," winger Daniel Winnik said. "I think it's more important to be on a roll mid-February and March as opposed to taking a break then."

Zucker has scored in consecutive games for the first time since mid-November and boasts six points in his last seven games. Granlund has racked up six points in his past four games. His 14 points since the holiday break are tied for the most in the NHL.

And as for Koivu, he's tallied an assist in four consecutive games and boasts nine points in his last 10.

More than the production, the unit has been dangerous on most shifts; it's forechecked aggressively, allowing it to hem the defense in its own end. And amid that offensive-zone time, it's been able to get off quality looks.

"They're working together," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "They're moving their legs, they're skating and when they do that, that's what happens is they're a tough line to be against."