We can talk all we want about Thursday night’s disappointing defeat to the Dallas Stars, as the Minnesota Wild suffered a 5-4 defeat in the preview of their first-round playoff series. But in the end, it only slightly confirmed that the Wild are going to not have home-ice advantage in this first-round matchup.
It’s unfortunate, but we can live with it. We can also live with the result after seeing just how heat poured out after the final whistle as defenseman Quinn Hughes got tangled up and practically every single Minnesota player on the ice was out for blood.
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It is a playoff series every single person in the hockey world saw coming from a mile away and for the neutrals, we bet it’s going to be exciting. For us? It is going to potentially take years off of our lives. But at least the Wild should show some fight.
That’s Wild
Jason Robertson was left off of Team USA by Bill Guerin and he might just end up trying to show the Wild GM what they were missing (despite the team winning the gold medal). And on the way, it might just make him even more of a villain in Minnesota. [Hockey Wilderness]
It is unfortunate that Wild prospect Charlie Stramel broke his ankle and has to just hope to impress enough in training camp, instead of making his pro debut this month. But, he most likely wouldn’t have helped the Wild in the postseason anyways. [Hockey Wilderness]
More on the Wild’s loss in Dallas and how it means that they’re going to be most likely starting the playoffs also in Dallas. [StarTribune]
Off the trail…
Cole Caufield scored his 50th goal of the season, something he was destined to do. [Sportsnet]
Both the Devils and the Maple Leafs were given permission to speak with Sunny Mehta, the brains behind the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cups. [Sportsnet]
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