Minnesota Wild: Matt Boldy a ‘gametime decision’ for win-or-else Game 6 matchup

Minnesota Wild fans have clamored to have Matt Boldy inserted into the lineup since he was named one of the six members of the team’s taxi squad at the start of the postseason.

Those individuals might get their wish in Game 6 of the best-of-seven series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Then again, they might not.

Boldy , a first-round selection in 2019, was on the ice Wednesday morning for the team’s  pregame skate, and Wild coach Dean Evason said during a media session that the 21-year-old forward was available for Minnesota’s win-or-else scenario at the Xcel Energy Center.

Boldy managed six goals and 18 points in 14 games in Iowa. Before that, he had 11 goals and 31 points in 22 games with Boston College. this past season as a collegiate sophomore and was named a Hobey Baker Award Top Ten Finalist.

Boldy’s teammate at Boston College, Spencer Knight, made 36 saves in his postseason debut on Monday as he helped the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 and extend that series. In addition, Cole Caufield, who played with Boldy and Knight for a Team USA  squad which won the World Juniors title, has been in the Montreal Canadiens lineup the last two games for their series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Wild defenseman Calen Addison, who was called up to a Wild as part of the ‘Black Aces’ as well, made his postseason debut on Monday after Carson Soucy was injured in the previous game. Addison had an assist in the first period of the Wild’s 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in  Las Vegas.

It might be a — should we say ‘bold’ move — to put another rookie into the lineup  for a game that the Wild need in order to extend their season. It also could be one that Minnesota can’t afford not to make at this point.

Minnesota has a record of 4-3 in Game 6 matchups in franchise history. The last one came in 2016 when the Dallas Stars edged Minnesota 5-4 in St. Paul. The Wild are 12-10 overall in playoff elimination games.

“You can’t sugarcoat it, again,”  Evason said during the media session. “We’re still down 3-2 , so we are in a position where we have to be desperate. We’re in a position same as last game. We have to score goals and we have to win one game at a time. That’s the message.”

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