The Wild take their modest 3-game win streak into Columbus to face their NHL expansion class of 2000 brethren. Columbus has had a struggle this season mainly due to injury after making the huge free agent splash last Summer with the signing of Johnny Gaudreau.

it is an interesting time for sure around the NHL with the trade deadline fast approaching next Friday. The playoff races are so up in the air in the entire Western Conference and the wildcard positions in the Eastern Conference are equally as close. That makes for evn tougher decisons for GMs to be buyers or sellers, or the third option which may be more common is the minor tweak.

We know that Bill Guerin has some big decisions to make both at the deadline and also in the offseason with his roster and the expiring contracts that need to be addressed.

We have discussed Matt Dumba adnauseam, will he be moved before next Friday or do the Wild treat him as their own in-house rental? Jordan Greenway is clearly a player on the block as the $3M per season he is making would be helpful in freeing up cap space to address the RFAs that need new deals.

Those key RFAs start with Filip Gustavsson, who has taken over the #1 goalie postion for the WIld with his stellar play. He has been a huge reason that the Wild have been in games recently and stolen some points for sure since his season turned around back in November.

Brandon Duhaime, Mason Shaw, Calen Addison, and Sam Steel are all RFAs as well. Now Steel has played himself up and down the depth chart this season, and most recently out of of the lineup with his poor play of late. He is would seem like an afterthought for sure, while Addison who has also played himself into the press box could be moved at the deadline as well.

Ironically Addision will draw back into the lineup as Jonas Brodin will sit out to rest his lower body injury that he suffered several games back against the Coyotes. He was able to come back and play pretty well despite the fact that he was exxentially playing on one leg.

Jon Merrill also did not make the trip as he is dealing with an illness so Dakota Mermis gets the call and will play tonight.

On a positive note Marcus Foligno will return to the Wild lineup and take Adam Beckman's place on the line with Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek. Beckman has played well in since his callup and appeared to have scored his first NHL goal Tuesday night, but it was ruled that the play was offside and the goal was disallowed.

The Wild prospect depth is very deep as we are all pretty well aware with the likes of top end offensive prospects Danila Yurov, Marat Khusnutdinov, and Liam Ohgren, but they are all a couple years away. Of course Marco Rossi is the guy who will make an impact first from the Wild's prospects, and he is making strong progess in Iowa, and likely will be a factor as this season progresses for the Wild.

Defense prospects include Brock Faber, who was acquired in the Kevin Fiala trade. Faber currently captain's the Top ranked University of Minnesota men's hockey team. Faber is out with an injury but is expected back soon. He is also expected to sign with the Wild once the Gophers season comes to an end.

Carson Lambos, Ryan O'Rourke, Jack Peart, and Daemon Hunt are defense prospects with Lambos being the most likely to make the leap first. The well publicized goaltending prospect, Jesper Wallstedt is making the most of his first professional season in North America as he recently had an eight game win streak which included his first shutout of the season.

With this luxury of future assets, does Guerin tap into any of this prospect capital in an effort to bolster the squad?

The three game win streak has put the Wild two points ahead of Calgary in the race for the final wildcard position in the Western Conference with a game in hand. The enormous Ryan Hartman late game goal that sealed the Wild victory over Nashville on Sunday leaves the Predators seven points back of Minnesota with two games in hand.

With some winnable games coming up in the five remaining Wild games prior to the deadline the Wild have an opportunity to potentially close the gap on the Central Division leaders. There are only five points separating the top four teams in the Central.

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

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