Minnesota Wild Gameday Playoff Preview: Game 6 vs. the Stars – Hockey Writers – Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild bounced back from Game 5 on the road as they defeated the Dallas Stars 4-2 on Tuesday night, April 28, to regain a 3-2 lead. Everyone in their lineup stepped up, and made a difference, along with the return of two injured players in Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin, but added Jonas Brodin to the injured list, as he left the game after blocking a shot. The injury-free fix will be Nico Sturm in and Bobby Brink out.

The Wild have shown that they are a different team than they have been in the past, and that has been the key to them advancing in this series. There have been different players who have stepped up, their standout players have performed as expected, and their goal scoring has been outstanding. They can win Game 6 and secure the series, but they have to make sure they stick to their game. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few storylines to follow before Game 6, starting with the opportunity they have.

Wild Has a Big Chance

For those outside of the Wild fanbase who have seen teams get past the first round, it’s hard to understand the importance of not only winning Game 6 but closing out the series and having a chance to do so on home ice. The Wild have been strong enough to make the postseason in past years, but have had a tough time getting out of the first round.

The running joke for what feels like the last decade or so is that the Wild would make the postseason, but would exit in the first round. It almost seemed like the team felt that even years ago, and even though they were trying to get through, they were their own enemy with the penalty issues, the losses they faced, and so on. However, this season they have shown that they are a different team, and of course, they want to win, but it feels like this season they know they can and believe in it.

“Yeah, we’re all very excited to have a chance to win on home ice tonight, we’re going to look better, like we have the first five games of this series and repeat tonight,” Jake Middleton said to the media after skating in the morning about the possibility of winning the series at home, and continued on how difficult it would be to end the team’s season, “Yeah, the series was so easy. The expectation going into tonight and we’re trying to do the same thing we’ve been doing.”

“Yeah, the hardest thing to do in sports is to end the season of a desperate team so I think that’s the big idea that’s going to be made tonight,” Nico Sturm said to the media after the morning swing about how challenging it would be to finish the team’s season and stay in a chance to win the series, “Yeah, I think we’re not trying to let our fans know what a big game means and we know what a game means. I know that but if we focus on all those things outside it almost takes away the focus on what needs to be done.” you do it when you’re on the ice so I think the team has been very, very business-like, that’s at least the impression I’ve gotten in the last few weeks especially.”

Wild Must Always Avoid Themselves

For those who have watched the Wild, especially over the past five years, it’s easy to see why they didn’t get out of the first round, even when they seemed to have the talent. They would take uncharacteristic penalties, which led to the power play of the opposing teams almost always scoring goals, and causing disappointment.

If it wasn’t their special teams, it was their inability to win faceoffs and play their style of game. They tried to play their opponent’s style, and many times it came back to bite them. This postseason so far, they’ve done a great job of focusing on their game and shutting out all the noise. They had their share of slip-ups, but overall, they allowed the Stars to beat themselves at their own game. Ryan Hartman, in particular, did a great job of this, as well as Marcus Foligno.

Things got better in Game 2, and it looked like the Wild would go back to bad habits, but they took care of it quickly and have done so ever since. The Stars have pushed the Wild’s buttons hard, knowing they’ve fallen for it before, but so far, so good for the Wild.

“Yeah, you’ve got to feed yourself, right? Our fans, they’re unbelievable, and we’ll eat whatever they give us. We’ll use it to our advantage,” Jake Middleton told the media after a morning swing about how loud and happy the fans would be.

The Wild Need Their Stars

The Wild need the production of their stars throughout the series, but in Game 6, when they have the biggest opportunity they have had during the seasons, they will really need Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov, Mats Zuccarello, Joel Eriksson Ek, Brock Faber, and Quinn Hughes, as well as Jesper Wallstedt, to find another level in their game.

Good to have Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin back in the lineup after missing several games; both were factors in their Game 5 win, but now Jonas Brodin is gone. He left Game 5 in the morning after blocking a shot, and it was announced during the Wild’s morning skate that he would not play in Game 6. They were able to close out the win without him for more than half of Game 5, and now they will have to do it again in Game 6. Jeff Petry will be in the lineup, and he will skate alongside Zach Bojodis and Jaberkered Spree, another Jaberkered and Jaberkered Sp. Middleton.

“Yeah, Jimmy (Brodin), it’s hard to replace him, he’s just an amazing player, an amazing teammate but like we’ve done all these years here, it’s a good idea and we’re all going to step up our game,” Middleton said after the morning swing about Brodin’s exit and continued Petry’s entry, “Yeah, no, about 10 or two blocks? So, he knows what he’s doing, and he’ll come in seamlessly.”

It will be interesting to see how the team progresses and if they can find a way to close out the series for the first time in 11 years. It’s safe to say that the Grand Casino Arena will be the loudest it’s been all season, and hopefully the Wild can use that to their advantage without getting themselves into trouble. They have to remember their behavior, and if they can do that, they can come out with a win and close the series.