Wilderness Walk: Storm Brewing

The Wild are taking on the Carolina Hurricanes tonight and hope to put an end to their recent run of less than satisfying games. Crucial will be getting off to a quick start, something that has eluded them in the games against Chicago and Washington. Perhaps one of the Wild will step up and be a hero tonight, getting the team fired up like we often saw earlier this season. Here’s Foreigner to inspire some heroics.

Wild News

Wild falling into trend of allowing too many goals - StarTribune.com
This is one of those things that is easy to say but hard to do.

In a flash, Wild's Staal to play in 1,000th NHL game Sunday - StarTribune.com
Staal is an iron man which is why he will be the first of his draft class to reach this milestone. That, and the fact he played 83 games last season.

Wild not worried about losing Western Conference lead to Blackhawks
I'm not worried about losing the Western Conference lead (as cool as it would be to win it). I'm worried the Wild are not playing well in the run up to the playoffs. We've all seen how that goes.

Tending the Fields

Future Watch 2017: The NHL’s Top 10 rising prospects | The Hockey News
Three Wild prospects feature on this list. I'm too excited about that to make a joke.

On Frozen Pond

Why the U.S. women's hockey team is boycotting the world championships - Sportsnet.ca
I doubt they get everything they are seeking, but I do hope that they can get some better support and respect.

Wednesday Women: The Frozen Four :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online
Minnesota women's hockey are among the crème de la crème.

College Hockey News: Blog " Blog Archive " Three Things I Think: Big Ten, March 13

Minnesota men's hockey is also pretty good... at least within their own division.

Behind Enemy Lines - Canes Country

Metropolitan Division Weekly Roundup: Playoff Teams Spring Forward - Canes Country
The top four teams of the Metro have continued pulling ahead in the standings. The bottom teams are bunching up as teams get eliminated from playoff contention.

Off the Trail

It's Truthiness Season In The NHL
This is a really interesting look at regular season success and the correlation to playoff success.

It's Not Easy Being Green
The problem is definitely the color of the sweaters and not anything else.

30 Thoughts: What's delaying the NHL's Olympic decision? - Sportsnet.ca
I'm starting to worry about the effects of this Olympic discord could have on the next CBA negotiation. Not that those need any help with generating tension between the players and the owners.

Flames beware? NHL teams tend to struggle after streaks - Article - TSN

Boudreau is asked for his theory, probably because Minnesota was the exception that proved the rule.

Why protected lists should be public ahead of expansion draft - Article - TSN

Making the expansion lists public is good for the league overall and generates even more interest and attention, but I have to imagine it could sow some trouble among the teams and players.

Plenty of lessons for Chayka in year No. 1 - Article - TSN

Chayka's age didn't seem to stop him from getting a good deal from Chuck Fletcher for Martin Hanzal and Ryan White.

Down Goes Brown: Potential for first-round rivalry matchups on the rise - Sportsnet.ca
I would love to see a Battle of Ontario and a Battle of Alberta in the playoffs. For once, Bettman's interests and mine coincide. Does that make me a bad person?

It’s an early game today, 6 pm CST. Catch it on Fox Sports North.