Minnesota Wild: Gut Check Time

Nov 6, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom (32) makes a save on a shot from Ottawa Senators left wing Mike Hoffman (68) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Wild 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

There is no such thing as a must-win NHL game in November.

Now that we have that out of the way, I really believe the rest of the current road trip the Wild are on is very important. After starting 7-3, the Wild have looked listless without one of their best players and leaders, Zach Parise. He is missing time with the always perplexing “upper body injury”. After scoring at least four goals in their previous five tilts, they have sputtered to one goal in two games, losing both. Another hinderance is the fact that Matt Cooke and Jared Spurgeon are also sidelined with injuries.

What makes the next couple games important is the Central Division is not going to hit the pause button to allow Parise to get well and help the Wild win. After setting themselves up in great position due to some slow starts by division foes, the Wild have backslid a bit. Again, it is only November, but a division with Chicago and St. Louis is not a fun one to attempt to play catch-up in. Besides that, passing early season tests can instill confidence for later on in the season.

More from Minnesota Wild

• Minnesota Wild: a pleasant early season surprise
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• Minnesota Wild: Changes are coming
• Wild lose Parise, game four, quite possibly the series
• Down 0-2, Wild aren’t worried yet

Incidentally, I still think the Wild will pull through this and be fine at the end of the year. Remember, Minnesota dropped six straight last December which caused much hand-wringing at the time, but ended up fine. The other fact is the Wild have still out shot every opponent this season, which is remarkable. The chances have been there, so now the finishes need to follow.

It is time for the other goal scorers to step up and carry the team for a bit. Even without Parise, the talent is evident. How about the young guys like Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle, Eric Haula and Justin Fontaine leading the way? Or what about the old guard, starting with Captain Koivu, with Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek backing him up?

As far as opponents to “get well” against, trying to beat the Montreal Canadiens in the Bell Centre would not be anyone’s first choice. The good news is, that while the Habs are 7-0-1 in one-goal games, they have been far from dominant.

It does not matter how it happens. All I know is a win tonight, in a hostile environment, would do wonders for this team.

No one ever said this was supposed to be easy.