Gone Puck Wild
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Minnesota Wild: The Opening Faceoff 9 Mar 17

By Danny Lambert

Feb 10, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund (64) tries to put the puck in the corner of the net on Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during overtime at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild win 2-1 over the Lightning in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2017; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund (64) tries to put the puck in the corner of the net on Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during overtime at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild win 2-1 over the Lightning in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Wild are back on the road for a swing through Florida.  With games back-to-back tonight and tomorrow against the Lightning and Panthers, it should be a long road to Chicago as the Wild prepare for their last regular season showdown with the Blackhawks.

Here’s what to clue into today as we drop the puck on Thursday.

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1) Wild head into Tampa Bay looking to keep conference lead:  The Wild are only one point up on the very rested Chicago Blackhawks for the division and conference leads.  The Blackhawks are ridding a seven game win streak as they take on the Ducks tonight.  If the Wild lose tonight it opens them up to being leaped by the Hawks if they win.  But like the Wild the Hawks have back-to-back games headed into their head-to-head showdown on Sunday, so it’s conceivable that Sunday’s game could be a winner takes the lead scenario.

Mar 3, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates his goal with left wing Jonathan Drouin (27) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates his goal with left wing Jonathan Drouin (27) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

2) The Lightning are motivated for the playoffs:  The Lightning may seem to have given up on the playoffs on paper, but looking at their lineup anything can happen.  They are only four points behind the Isles for the second Wild Card spot in the East, and with the explosive scoring potential of Kucherov and Drouin they have a big chance to makeup that deficit.  That means they’ll be motivated and if Vasilevskiy catches fire you could see a long night for the Wild.

3) Dumba is sick but looking to re-join the team soon:  Michael Russo is reporting that Matt Dumba’s illness that kept him out of the St. Louis game could affect his status for tonight’s tilt in Tampa.  He didn’t travel with the team initially, but was looking to join the team last night or today.  Keep an eye out if he makes it.  If he’s out look for Olofsson to start again for sure.

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4) Mark your calendars for Tuesday as the Wild skate into Washington:  Tuesday’s game in DC should be every bit as important as Sunday’s tilt against the Blackhawks.  The Wild will take on the Beast of the East in the Caps in what could be a preview of a possible Stanley Cup Final match-up.  At a minimum though this should be a huge game as it will really show the Wild just how good their team is.  A win on the road against the Caps would be huge, but make no mistake these Caps don’t tend to lose at the Verzion Center very easily.

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Well that about does it for today.  Sorry I shorted you a topic, but I’m sure tomorrow we’ll have no issue getting enough to talk about.  Before game time make sure to check-in on Dumba’s status, and till then enjoy your day!

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