Minnesota Wild vs Phoenix Coyotes: Game 19

This just in: winning games is important.

The WIld are 5-4-1 in their last ten, something that is as unsurprising as it is unremarkable. Remember, other than Barry Melrose, most people (including us) had the Wild between a 6 and 8 seed in the West. That is going to come down to tie breakers, most likely, so the Wild are going to need to start winning games and start scoring goals.

The quest to win looks as though it begins with the same lineup as played against the Flames. Mike Yeo probably figures that a win is a win, and that changing things right now makes little sense. Maybe he figures the Flames are just a defensive hockey team and his lines have the capacity to score against a team that might open up a bit more.

Or, maybe it just really doesn't matter.

The Coyotes are one of three teams tied at 21 points and are ahead fo the Wild in the standings. They have an unremarkable team on paper, but they do this magic thing that the Wild can't seem to figure out. The technical term for it is "win," but in the real world, especially here in Minnesota, it is known as, "that thing other teams do."

It all comes down to execution. The Wild need to play their game, and stick to it for 60 minutes. Do that, they can win. As always, do not do that, and they will almost assuredly lose.

Your wisdom for the day: play hockey = win, don't play hockey = lose.

Enjoy the game, folks.