Despite their recent loss to the Nashville Predators, the Wild still believe that the playoffs are within reach.
NASHVILLE - Despite losing a big game that could've had the Wild within four points of a playoff spot, the focus for the team is to be ready for the next game.
Their 6-1 loss to the Predators last night has now put them eight points out of a playoff spot and could've had them within four points.
"We're going to fight until the end to just reach that wildcard spot," Filip Gustavsson said. "Today we didn't do it, so we need to recharge and do it next game."
The Wild continue this little road-trip with a game in St. Louis against the Blues on Saturday. The Blues are one point ahead of the Wild so this next game is pretty important.
"We just have to move forward," Jake Middleton said. "We say that all the time. But we do have to move forward. We got another division game in two days that we have focus on now."
What is concerning is how the Wild played yesterday. There was a lot at stake yet the Wild weren't competitive. They played a soft game and weren't able to string any good shifts together.
In a game as big as yesterday's way, you would think they would come out firing and play one of their best games of the year. Yet that was not the case.
“This is the first time in a long time I think. When you look at our last 10-game segment, we were forcing the other team to be the second-most competitive team and tonight they forced us to be the second-most competitive team on the ice," Wild head coach John Hynes said. "You gotta take one game at a time. I think you gotta take the lessons out of this one, but for us to continue to win and make a push here that style of game that we played tonight is not conducive to winning.”
But is it concerning that the Wild didn't have it tonight despite what was on the line?
“Yes, tonight was a big game," Hynes said yesterday. "We didn’t have our best, but I think we’ve had our best, we’ve had a pretty good stretch here 7-2-1. Tonight we’re going to address some areas and we should be a hungrier, harder team coming into Saturday and that’s what we’re going to look forward to doing.”
Just over the weekend the Wild were two points out of a playoff spot but now are eight points out. A hard realization that even if you think you played well, the standings can catch up to you quickly.
The Wild will remain in the hunt with 22 games left in the season and although last night's game was important, it wasn't season ending.
"Yeah. Like we’re not out," Middleton said. "What was it last year, Pittsburgh lost and Florida got in, like, we know there's scenarios obviously. We still want to be in a position to control our own destiny, but a lot can happen. It’s the NHL. The parity’s there, and you never know."
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