Wild resumes playoff push with impressive win over Lightning

The Wild couldn't replenish what was lost in five days with just one game.

But the team's 5-2 win over the Lightning Saturday at Xcel Energy Center was a strong start to not only get back to where it was before it went on its mandatory five-day break but potentially climb even more.

"Hockey players are hockey players, and they want to see where they are and they know how close everything is," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "They know that there's less than 40 games left. So I mean every game is vital."

A 4-1-2 run leading up to the bye week catapulted the Wild into the first wild-card berth and within striking distance of the third seed in the Central Division.

But with its rivals going on a tear while the Wild waited to resume playing, the team slid down the standings.

It didn't flip back into a playoff spot after holding off the Lightning, an impressive accomplishment after being idle for most of the week. But it did settle right back into the groove it had before its layoff.

And considering how its competition is performing, banking points on a nightly basis seems like a prerequisite to staying in the race.

Not everyone in the division, however, was successful Saturday.

The Blues were upended by the Coyotes, and they suddenly look vulnerable after dropping four of their last six.

And the Blackhawks were routed 7-3 by the Islanders and are five points behind the Wild.

Still, nothing is guaranteed in January.

"Every time we look, a Central [Division] team is winning," Boudreau said. "It's pretty hard when you come to the game and three of the Central [Division] teams have already won. It's pretty hard not to put your best foot forward knowing this is going to be pretty crazy down the stretch."

"When he has a game like that where he chips in a goal and he defends his teammates, generally doesn't make too many mistakes, I think it's great," Boudreau said.

It was Prosser's first game-winner since Feb.14, 2015, and he has three points – including two goals – in six Hockey Day Minnesota games. Both goals were game-winners.

"That's another fun day for me," Prosser said. "It was a good game by us. A complete team effort. Nice to come out with two points."

After the hit, which wasn't penalized, Prosser skated up to Callahan, teeing off a scrum along the boards that involved every skater on the ice.

"I thought it was late, and it was a big hit," Prosser said. "I just wanted to jump in and stick up for my teammate. Just trying to get the team going, trying to get the building going. If that's what gets the guys going, I'll do that every night."