Wild's woes continue in loss to New Jersey, fourth consecutive defeat

NEWARK, N.J. – Like a dignitary on a rope line, former New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise spent his night at the Prudential Center shaking hands and kissing babies.

As affable as Parise is, the Wild's heart and soul (reaffirmed in a giant way this past week) would much rather have been on the ice. His teammates wished he was, too, because they have completely lost their way.

Since Parise was concussed a week ago, the Wild has played like a concussed team.

Players look confused. They lack intensity and can't execute the simplest plays. The result has created one giant headache as the latest 3-1 defeat to the New Jersey Devils was the Wild's fourth in a row to destroy what was at one point a great start to this season.

"I think we've forgotten how hard it is to win in this league, and I think that we're getting a bit of a reminder right now," coach Mike Yeo said.

The Wild, after getting swept on its three-game road trip by a combined 10-2, returned to Minnesota with a 7-7 record. That's an average record for a team that has looked awfully average without Parise and mobile defenseman Jared Spurgeon.

The good news is there's a chance Parise and Spurgeon return Thursday against Buffalo. Maybe that can reinvigorate this dragging team.

It's frightening though how nobody has stepped up in Parise's place.

Wild captain Mikko Koivu has two goals and one assist in 14 games. Big-money goal-scoring acquisition Thomas Vanek has one goal and doesn't seem to like to shoot anymore.

"I was awful in the first 40 minutes, and as a team, I don't think we were great," said Vanek, who had a puck roll off his stick on a 1-on-0 late in the second period. "I've got to score that."

Top-six forwards Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund have been MIA. Granlund has no assists in the past six games and Coyle has no goals since Oct. 23 and was minus-6 on the trip.

"I had a little lapse like this last year," Coyle said. "I just have to get back to playing my physical game."

The Wild still had a chance to tie with 5 ½ minutes left when Vanek and Erik Haula raced in on a 2-on-0. But Schneider robbed Haula with an outstretched right pad thievery.

"Chance like that, it's just got to be back in the net," Haula said.

For the third consecutive game, the Wild followed a scoreless first period with a terrible second. In Seth Helgeson's NHL debut, Tuomo Ruutu deflected the former Gophers defenseman's shot for a 1-0 lead. Less than four minutes later, Jaromir Jagr skated by Vanek as if he was stuck in mud to set up Mike Cammalleri. Granlund hit the post moments before.

Before Ruutu's goal, the Jason Zucker-Koivu-Coyle line buzzed. In fact, game after game, the line has generated sustained pressure and scoring chances. But, as Coyle said, "Zone time, chances, but we've got to be better burying them."