Minnesota Wild (38-35-8) vs Dallas Stars (42-28-11)
Xcel Energy Center @ 5:00 PM CDT Television: FSN (HD)
Listen live on Wild.com, or locally at WCCO.com
For the Dallas perspective, check out Defending Big D
| Minnesota Wild | Dallas Stars |
|
Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Antti Miettinen Jose Theodore
| Jamie Benn - Brad Richards - Loui Eriksson Karlis Skrastins - Stephane Robidas Kari Lehtonen |
This is it folks. Your last chance at Minnesota Wild hockey until October. But hey, that's only six month away, right? Ugh.
Today's game has meaning if the Chicago Blackhawks lose, it has no meaning if they secure even a single point. The Stars are still alive in the playoff race, and this will be the last regular season game in the NHL. Whoever scheduled this game has to be pulling for a Hawks loss, right? Last game of the year, playoffs on the line? The story writes itself.
As for the game itself, the Wild are coming off of a gut check, and relatively easy win against a weak Oilers squad. They did, however, finally show some fight and some pride and stand up for themselves. If nothing else, they redeemed themselves a bit to the fans with that. A win on home ice to end the season would work wonders for fan morale going into a very long summer.
If the Stars are still alive when this one starts, don't count on them going down easy, and the Wild will have to summon a force of nature to stop a team bent on making the playoffs. If this game means nothing, the Wild could be facing an angry or a deflated Stars squad. No matter what, this could be a very entertaining game for the fans.
If nothing else, it is your last Wild hockey fix until October, so you may want to tune in just for that.
Five Questions:
- Will Drew Bagnall continue to impress?
- Can the Wild find a hero for a final win?
- Last game of the season, Twins playing, anyone around?
- What, exactly, do people love so much about summer?
- Are there any answers to the questions at hand?