If the playoffs started today, the Minnesota Wild would be solidly in the playoffs. But at the same time, as they hit the quarter mark of the season, they’re closer to last place in the Central Division than first place.
The Wild have had moments where they look like a genuine contender: A terrific 1-0 shutout of Tampa Bay and a near flawless home record. However, a sub-.500 road record and a brutal run of injuries could hold this team back.
Zach Parise has been out since Nov. 5 with a sprained MCL, when he had been leading the team with 7 goals in 12 games. Justin Fontaine has missed nine games since spraining his MCL; Marco Scandella went on the IR with a lower-body injury; and Jason Zucker took a puck to the mouth (via the crossbar) at practice on Nov. 23 and went right to the dentist.
Since the Parise injury, Thomas Vanek has picked up some slack with 8 goals and 8 assists, and is already one-third of the way to last year’s point total. Ryan Suter (3-16-19) has surpassed last year’s goal total and is halfway to his point total. Mikko Koivu has 14 assists and 18 points with a team leading plus-6 rating.
Where the team appears to be struggling is in goal and who is scoring the goals. Devan Dubnyk has started 17 of 19 games and, despite leading the league with three shutouts, he has below-league-average save percentage and goals-against average. With the team in the middle of a four-game homestand against Western Conference teams, the chance of a rest is uncertain; all the games are a potential 4-point swing, and all the points are crucial.
The team has a plus-6 goal differential, better than all but Dallas in the Central Division. The challenge is where are the goals coming from, especially with Parise out of the lineup. Jason Pominville is goalless on the season; Charlie Coyle has 4 goals but hasn’t scored in his last nine outings; Nino Niederreiter has 6 goals but only two this month.
Vanek, Suter and Koivu are leading this team, which was a no certainty going into the season. But getting Parise back — likely after this homestand wraps up — and getting him back up to speed may be the key to getting more balance in the Wild attack.
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