Wild Blog: Getting Out Of The Shark Tank Intact
Okay I'm finally ready to admit it: The Wild need some help.
I've been trying to find my happy place and keep telling myself--and, frankly, anyone who will listen to me--that this will be the game that will turn the Wild's season around, but that game has yet to happen.
Unlike a lot of fans, I'm trying to give the team the benefit of the doubt. No team likes to lose.
I'd like to think Saturday's 7-1 pounding in Dallas was the wake-up call they needed, but only time will tell.
There's no question The Wild need to be better in the net, and they need to get back to playing their game--the game they had at the beginning of the season where they were using their speed and skill to control the puck.
I know they've had to deal with injuries and sickness, but I think the young guys that got called up have played well.
What I'd really like to see is guys like Jason Pominville, Thomas Vankek and Mikko Koivu step up.
Pominville needs to be a goal scorer. I've heard the words "Pominville didn't get all of that one" or "Pominville just misses the net" during television broadcasts about one or two or 20 times this season.
Vanek was signed for one reason only--to score goals. And that's just not happening like it should be.
Koivu needs to find what I like to call his "Angry Mikko" game. You know what I'm talking about. When he gets that look in his eyes like he's going to kill someone and then just lights it up on the ice. That's the kind of Mikko I think we'd all like to see more of.
So could Tuesday's game versus the San Jose Sharks be the game that turns the season around?
As long as there's a chance, I'm going to take it!
After all, if the past is any indication of the future, I'd say we've got a good shot. The Wild have won the last seven times versus the Sharks at the Xcel Energy Center.
I'll take those odds any day!