The Minnesota Wild's early-season struggles — slow starts, poor special teams and uncharacteristic defensive zone woes — through the first 10 games are well documented. But for the first time this season, the Wild showed a glimpse of their potential in their 5-4 win over the New York Rangers Saturday.
Now, the Wild look to build on what they did during the final 40 minutes against the Rangers during their three-game road trip in New York, which starts tonight with a tilt against the Islanders.
The Wild hope the win that ended their four-game losing streak set the tone for the road trip and beyond.
"It's important because we hadn't had that type of game consistently," head coach Dean Evason said after Sunday's outdoor practice ... "Hopefully we can use that as a bar to how we want to continue to play all year."
The Wild looked like themselves defensively for the first time this season. The Wild allowed just three high-danger chances, seven scoring chances, 11 shots, 24 shot attempts and held a 73 percent expected goals rate in the final two periods Saturday.
The Wild aim to continue on the road trip what they accomplished defensively in the final 40 minutes against the Rangers on Saturday, and they've worked on their own-zone play in practice.
"We worked a little bit on our entries today," Evason said Monday. "We worked on our closing, taking time and space away from teams in the defensive zone.
"We think we've given some teams a little too much respect and allowed them to make plays whereas in the past, we've closed and turned pucks over quickly with our dislodges."
The Wild are carrying eight defenseman on the road trip, and there's a possibility that Jared Spurgeon will play at some point. In addition to the Wild's usual six is Dakota Mermis and Daemon Hunt.
Mermis, recalled from AHL Iowa back on Oct. 12, has five points through nine games and has made a strong case that he belongs in the NHL.
"He just battles and competes," Evason said, "and he's got bite to his game. ... He's conducted himself very well in every game that he's been (in)."
As for Hunt, the Wild's 21-year-old left-shot defensive prospect, he hasn't played a lot with just 18 minutes across three games, but Evason has liked what he's seen so far from him.
"We only had six D last night, so he was able to get more touches, more involved in the game," Evason said Sunday. "We thought he was very assertive when he was on the ice and aggressive and didn't look out of place obviously."
All data via Natural Stat Trick