Dan Wallace: Keep Looking Forward Wild

As ugly as that game turned out, it’s not like they didn’t have at least a dozen point blank chances to stay in and retake control of the game. They just couldn’t capitalize.

A 5 game home stretch will determine what this team is made of. Are they truly a better team after making some moves, or just caught a breath of fresh air that made them forget that they suck? We will see over the next few games.

I hate to say this Gump, but the missed opportunities is what has plagued the Wild for the last 10 years. I know it's not that easy to score in the NHL (or at any level really), but great scoring opportunities need to be capitalized on, and the Wild don't. I love the optimism though!

And TB, you dead on. Anything less than 4-1 record in this home stand will be useless for the Wild to make the playoffs. They've shown how to can compete with any team on the road, but they need to show that the X is difficult place to play again as well.

I hate to say this Gump, but the missed opportunities is what has plagued the Wild for the last 10 years. I know it's not that easy to score in the NHL (or at any level really), but great scoring opportunities need to be capitalized on, and the Wild don't. I love the optimism though!

- Gusrichards

Yeah, you're right, but that loss takes on a whole new meaning if they just get flat out thrashed without the multitude of scoring chances the Wild did have. Who knows, one or two of those chances go in and it's probably a different outcome.

I just think the shortfalls of this newer looking squad in that game was still holding some promise unlike all the games over the first part of the season where they did the same things.