Minnesota Wild: Wild Need to Wake Up
Apr 6, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle (3) and Winnipeg Jets forward Bryan Little (18) tangle during the third period at Xcel Energy Center. The Jets defeated the Wild 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports
According to Sports Club Stats, the Minnesota Wild currently have a 98.0% chance to make the Western Conference Playoff.
Only it certainly does not feel like it.
More from Minnesota Wild
- Minnesota Wild: a pleasant early season surprise
- Minnesota Wild: Chuck Fletcher had to go
- Minnesota Wild: Changes are coming
- Wild lose Parise, game four, quite possibly the series
- Down 0-2, Wild aren’t worried yet
The Wild continued a disturbing trend of late, losing again at home. The Winnipeg Jets invaded the Xcel Energy Center and wiped out the Wild 2-0. Despite the score being close, the Wild never seemed to get into the game, which was very disappointing considering the fact that the Jets are chasing the Wild in the Wild Card standings. Besides that, getting shut out on your home ice by a growing rival is downright embarrassing.
It is hard to imagine the Wild not making the postseason at this point. Really, any points gained would almost lock their spot up. Both the Los Angeles Kings and the Jets can max out at 100 points. The Wild could get to 102 but go on the road to face Chicago, St. Louis and Nashville. It is frustrating because, while the Wild still hold their fate in their hands, they should have sealed their playoff spot already. Now they have to go on the road to play the three best teams in the best division in hockey to end the regular season. Not good.
More from Sporting Sota
- Minnesota Twins bullpen will be their downfall
- Top 5 Minnesota Twins Pitching Prospects
- Kyle Rudolph signing gives stability to Minnesota Vikings offense
- Jake Odorizzi’s emergence fueling Twins starting staff
- Former Minnesota Twins player David Ortiz shot
It looks like the five day layoff the team had before the past three games was the worst thing that could have happened for them. The Wild were red hot, coming off of decisive wins against the Calgary Flames and the Kings, two of the teams they are fighting to make the postseason. It felt like they were putting an exclamation point on their season. Now? Nothing is certain anymore.
I am a pretty firm believer in numbers not lying, so I would be shocked if the Wild do not make it in. I am no longer nearly as confident in how they will do once they make it though. One reason I do still think they can make a run is that, for some reason, they seem to play much better with their backs up against the wall. The whole never back a wounded animal into a corner thing. That’s fine, but I would be much happier if they had not backed themselves into this corner to begin with.