Obviously losing hockey games at any point of the season is not a good thing, but considering the Minnesota Wild had a streak of losses against non-playoff teams and have now lost back-to-back games against for-real Stanley Cup contenders in the Stars and Lightning, the doubt is starting to creep in.

Is this team really that good, or are they just some regular season performers? And once we hit the postseason, we’ll see those typical problems like not being able to keep up with the best teams in the league or having no hulking workhorse defenseman to control everything in all three zones. It’s those creeping thoughts that sometimes win after unfortunate losses like they had in Tampa on Tuesday night.

Well, the Wild have an opportunity ahead of them to put some of that to bed against a downtrodden Florida Panthers team Thursday night. Is it necessary that they win? Not in the standings since they are still 12 points comfortably up on the Utah Mammoth and with five points separating them and the Stars, it feels like a gap that will be tough to close.

The Wild can basically keep on playing the same way they are right now and limp into the playoffs still third in the division. But it’s exactly that, they would be limping and would already be on their back foot in this crucial postseason. That’s why Thursday feels must-win — to start hopefully a solid run of hockey to then run through some lesser opponents coming up like the Canucks.

Just 10 games left in the season and the Wild need to finish on a good note.

That’s Wild

Takeaways from Tuesday night’s fiasco in Tampa. Lots of fights and an unfortunate bounce let the game get away from the Wild. [The Athletic]

In an almost too perfect analogy: The Minnesota Wild are Taco Bell. [Hockey Wilderness]

The Wild could’ve dealt center prospect Charlie Stramel for a key addition at the trade deadline earlier this month, but they decided to hold onto him. Now, it’s already paying dividends. [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail…

How Jack Hughes’ golden goal has changed him — inside his first month as an American Olympic hockey hero. [ESPN]

Projecting the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round opponent. [ESPN]

What underlying trends say about potential playoff teams. [Sportsnet]

Inside the NHL’s shift to being led by a bunch of Gen Z, TikTok-influenced talents like Macklin Celebrini. [The Athletic]

Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we’ll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.