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Wild Host Sharks, Playoffs In Sight

April 16, 2021, 2:29 PM ET [14 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Next up for the Wild are the Sharks for two at the XCEL Energy Center. Coming off the 5-2 victory over the Coyotea on Wednesday the Wild are getting closer to securing their playoff position. Heading into tonight's tilt the Wild are 10 points ahead of Arizona and have three games in hand and 13 points ahead of 6th place San Jose and a game in hand on the Sharks as well.

For both Arizona and San Jose they are in must win territory if they are to have any hopes of making the postseason. San Jose obviously is more of a long shot based in the moves that they made at the deadline. Sharks GM, Doug awesome was very active making several deals to stockpile draft choices and prospects as he looks to retool the San Jose roster.

Devan Dubnyk was dealt away to Colorado in exchange for former Wild teammate Greg Pateryn and a 5th round pick as the Avalanche were in desperate need of depth in goal behind Grubauer. That was of course magnified after the deal when Grubauer tested positive for COVID-19.

On Wednesday Marcus Foligno returned to the lineup and he made his presence felt with five hits, a blocked shot to go with two minor penalties in 14+ minutes of ice time. The Eriksson Ek Greenway Foligno line is a force for the Wild and having the trio back together should only enhance the Wild lineup as they make their playoff push.

Zach Parise had a goal and an assist in one of his best performances of the season. Parise is a key player for the Wild regardless of how the season has gone thus far for the veteran winger. His experience and ability to raise the level of his game the higher the stakes become are going to be called upon more as the season progresses and the games become that much more important.

Nick Bonino has been key to the Wild powerplay resurgence after their dismal first half production or should we say lack of any powerplay production. The Wild have scored 12 powerplay goals in 24 man advantage opportunities over the last seven games. Largely due to the commitment to moving the pucknquickly and generating more shots on goal. Bonino has been a force making his presence felt in front of the opposition taking away the goalie's sight lines or making them have to move to see around him, which has created more holes for the Wild shooters to find the net.

We have known all along that in order for the Wild to have any kind of sustainable success they were going to have to get their powerplay figured out. That appears to be indeed the case and they are clicking for sure now.

It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
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