Wilderness Walk: Hold Serve Edition

With a day to regroup following their decisive home ice victory against the Stars, the Wild have earned the opportunity to shock the world and show everyone that they can be competitive in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  That statement would begin with the Wild holding serve at home and sending the series back to Dallas with the Stars' collective tails between their legs and momentum having swung in Minnesota's favor.  The biggest question is whether the Wild saw their ability to play with the Stars first hand and will come back with the same swagger they used to assert their will on Monday night, or if they used up all of their energy in the win.    If you had any doubt about the difference the Wild showed in this game and have any familiarity with a team that held just 47% CF% during the season, this graphic should be pretty telling for the way the Wild played in game 3.

Now they have to guard against two things: 1.  Be confident - but don't be cocky.  That was a nice win and a very nice game and game plan.  Learn from it, build on it, don't expect it to go the same way in game 4.  2.  You CAN play with this team.  Certain quotes from the players on this team would lead you to believe that the Wild are David set to face the Stars Goliath.  It just isn't true - the Wild CAN play with anyone, the just have to make it happen.

So we turn to Empire of the Sun as we, the fanbase, as well as the Wild are still ALIVE in this race.  Let's Walk.

Wild News

Parise, Vanek skate at practice, but don't expect them to return - StarTribune.com
Will the Wild extend the series long enough to offer put themselves into position to buy out Vanek?

Pominville, Wild surge back to beat Stars in Game 3 - Sportsnet.ca
Jason Pominville had two goals and an assist and the Minnesota Wild roared back from an early two-goal deficit to beat Dallas 5-3 on Monday night and slice the Stars' lead in the Western Conference quarterfinals to 2-1.

Pominville, Wild surge back to beat Stars - Article - TSN
Moar win!

Minnesota Wild wake vs. Stars, with season on the brink
Tom Power always puts a smile on my face

C’mon Ref: Roussel’s goal was bizarre, but the ruling was correct - Article - TSN
Kerry Fraser dishes on the strange goal from game 2

Behind Enemy Lines

Stars Forget How to Hockey After Two Goal Lead Five Minutes into Game 3: Six Easy Tweets - Defending Big D
The evening started out perfect for the Dallas Stars, then they stopped scoring, and starting being too polite to a Minnesota Wild team desperate for goals.

Dallas Stars: Gosselin's three Stars takeaways: Haven't seen this many bad passes since Cassel, Weeden suited up for the Cowboys | SportsDay
Here are three takeaways and observations from the Stars' 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild Monday night:1. Speed killsIt's not often a speed team...

Dallas Stars: He said it: Players and coaches comment after Stars' 5-3 loss in Minnesota Monday | SportsDay
Who said what from the other side?

Off The Trail

Coach’s challenge dominating early playoff chatter - Article - TSN
An unwanted focus

#MondayMustRead: The search for the perfect playoff format - Article - TSN
The right format may not have included the Wild this year

Senators meet with Yeo about HC position - Article - TSN
He could be back in the league very quickly, as we all expected.

Five things we learned in the NHL: Philly's shame - Sportsnet.ca
Wild increase scoring by 500%

3 Stars of the Night: April 18
Here are my 3-Stars from last night's playoff games: 1) Ovechkin, 2) Pearson, 3) Pominville.

Steve Ott is more than just hockey's mouth of the south - Sportsnet.ca
#LaughAtOtt

Kings gain new life in Pacific Division showdown - Sportsnet.ca
In a battle spearheaded by a pair of Norris Trophy front-runners, it’s Drew Doughty’s Los Angeles Kings that managed to avoid yet another precarious situation Monday.