Wild Weekly Planner: December 29th-January 4th Edition

This Week's Schedule

Game of the Week

It's easy to look back at Saturday night's heartbreaking overtime loss to the Jets and say there's no better match-up than tonight's rematch in the 'Peg. However, Minnesota enters today nine (that's right, N-I-N-E) points back of their rivals from the North who are knocking down the door of the Central Division's top three seeds. It would take a miracle for the downward-spiraling Wild to catch the high flying Jets. With that said, this week's game to watch features the ever dangerous Dallas Stars.

As stated above, the Jets are flying high; the Blue Jackets may not quite be in playoff contention, but they're 8-1-1 in their past 10 games; the Leafs are wild card contenders in the East and Dallas and Colorado are pushing from behind. Throw in the fact that Minnesota has only just recently learned how to win in Dallas after an abysmal decade and it could be a very, very long week.

Key Player of the Week

Minnesota's star young goalie has been exceptional at every level of play so far, and and I have all the confidence in the world that it will continue at the game's highest level. However, he has to be confident; he has to rediscover his game from earlier this season and last season. Will he be able to do that?

Finally...

There's no question there is talent and depth throughout this draft class and especially the projected first round, but a top-5 pick could help get Minnesota back on track sooner rather than later. Still, let's hope this campaign doesn't come to that. Have faith, Wild faithful; there's still plenty of season ahead.