Wild Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – They Won’t Go Away and Need to Push Back – The Hockey Writers – Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild ended their past week with a 4-2 series win over the Dallas Stars and a series start in the second round against the Colorado Avalanche. For the first time in 11 years, the Wild moved on to the second round of the postseason, and the fanbase is ecstatic. They didn’t have long to celebrate, though, as Round 2 started barely three days later. 

Their series started against the Avalanche on Sunday evening, May 3, and what a start it was. A combined 15 goals throughout the game as the Wild fell 9-6. The Wild will have two more games this week as they have three days off between Games 2 and 3. Here are a couple of storylines to follow for the week of May 4 – May 11. 

Wild Won’t Go Away 

When it looked like the Wild were going to fall into their usual pattern against the Stars, they proved they’re a different team. In past years, they would’ve gotten themselves into penalty trouble, and that would’ve been it. This season, although they did struggle with their special teams, they remained disciplined and limited the chances. 

They took Game 1 against the Stars but fell in the next two games, and just when it looked like they were going to let the Stars take control, they came out with three straight wins and took the series. Then, in Game 1 of their series against the Avalanche, they found themselves three goals behind early in the first. 

It appeared they were out before they were even in, but then they scored, and scored again, and the score for both teams kept rising. The Wild tied it 4-4 and took the lead 5-4 at one point, but the Avalanche stormed back and took the game 9-6. While it’s hard to let Game 1 get away, it was great to see the effort and refusal-to-give-up attitude the Wild had. Hopefully, they can bounce back and get Game 2. 

Wild Need to Push Back

The Wild tried to be more physical against the Avalanche, like they were against the Stars, but it didn’t work. They have to play their game with a little less physicality and more speed. They tried to slow the Avalanche down with hits, but instead, the Avalanche found a way around or had another player who was open and waiting. 

Although they lost, they proved they can win against the Avalanche with their ability to climb back into the game and even take a lead. They did so when they let up on the physical side and focused more on the skating side of the game. With the injuries to Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek, Game 1 exploited their absences, and the Wild will need more from everyone in the lineup. 

This series is far from over, and if Game 1 showed us anything, both teams are capable of winning, and both are capable of scoring a lot of goals. However, it’ll be interesting to see what happens when both teams have their defense locked down tight.