FERRELL: Minnesota Wild October in Review

With the calendar flipping to November, it's time to reopen an old segment from a previous site. At the end of every month, we will recap the month with best players, plays, etc.

October was not a great month for the Minnesota Wild. An injury-ravaged squad limped through October, with most of their main players returning by month's end. Despite the injuries, the Wild were hanging tight in just about every game and even held leads or were tied in the third period in most games.

They just need to find that finishing touch in November.

Record

Game recaps

Three Stars of the Month

3. Jared Spurgeon (10 GP, 1 goal-7 assists-8 points)

Leading the Wild defense to begin the season has been Jared Spurgeon, not his defensive partner Ryan Suter. Spurgeon leads the Wild defensemen with eight points and leads the team overall with seven assists. He has been a rock on the blue line when others on the defense have not been solid in the season's opening month.

2. Chris Stewart (10 GP, 6 goals-2 assists-8 points)

When some of the team's top offensive players went down, stepping up to help fill the void was Chris Stewart. Stewart's impressive six goals in the team's first six games helped keep the team's offense going while others struggled to find their place.

1. Jason Zucker (10 GP, 3 goals-4 assists-7 points)

While he does not lead the team in goals or points, no Wild player was better in the month of October than Jason Zucker. Game after game Zucker shined for the Wild thanks to his tremendous work ethic. Zucker is a part of arguably the Wild's best line -- Zucker/Mikko Koivu/Mikael Granlund -- and he should see a nice boost in production if that line can stay intact next month.

Top Five Plays

 5. Spurgeon goal versus Calgary

4. Devan Dubnyk save on Vancouver's Sam Gagner

3. Jared Spurgeon stick save against Chicago

2. Alex Stalock save on Carolina's Justin Williams

1. Devan Dubnyk save on Detroit's Gustav Nyquist

I-35 counter (counting those players who have made trips back and forth between Minnesota and Iowa)

*counter through 10/31/17

Random stat

Lakeville native and former University of Minnesota forward Justin Kloos made his NHL debut on Oct. 24 against Vancouver, and became just the second player in team history to wear the uniform number 82. Who was the last guy to wear number 82? Some guy named Marian Gaborik.

Never Miss an Episode of Giles & The Goalie!