The Minnesota Wild are 1-1 in the NHL Centre I.C.E. Prospects Tournament. The Wild won the first game on Friday vs. the Dallas Stars prospects 5 to 1. Wild player of the game? Probably Moises Gutierrez, a 6-foot-4, 227-pound winger from Anchorage, Alaska who scored twice.

The Wild then lost on Saturday to the Columbus Blue Jackets 3 to 8. Former Gopher Tyler Hirsch scored a goal, and former Wild top draft choice A.J. Thelen picked up an assist in a bizarre game where the Wild defense let in two short handed goals and allowed 23 shots over the final 40 minutes of the game.

The Wild had a defense focused practice this morning and will prepare to take on the St. Louis Blues prospects on Monday. MN Wild Freak almost feels like the NHL hockey season has begun!