Make-or-Break Stretch Coming for Minnesota Wild

It's no secret that the Minnesota Wild are not having the best first month of the season. They might have recently started to get out of a season-destroying skid with earning nine of the 12 points available to them in the last six games, but that still leaves them at NHL .500 and out of the playoff picture. Oh, and they just so happen to be heading into a stretch of games just a little bit tougher than facing the league's worst Calgary Flames.

This upcoming weekend they have a back-to-back that could potentially put them back in that season-opening disaster mindset. The Wild are hosting the Anaheim Ducks, who are sitting on top of the Pacific Division, on Saturday and then the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. And then if we really want to worry, the Carolina Hurricanes come to town next week and then the Wild visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (who already earned a win over them this season) and then travel to Winnipeg next weekend.

There's no "easy" slate of games in the NHL, but there certainly are difficult ones and the Wild are looking down the barrel of what could really be a make-or-break stretch of games for them. It might be the pessimistic Minnesota sports fan attitude, but it's very easy to see a scenario where the Wild suffer a whole lot of losses in the next several games.

That's Wild

• What we have learned after the Wild have pulled out of their skid, a little bit. [The Athletic]
• If the Wild get fully healthy, could they get more out of Vladimir Tarasenko? Ten points in 18 games is certainly not bad, but could he impact the game more? [Hockey Wilderness]
• The Wild are interested in Jordan Kyrou. But, is he a big enough fish for the Wild to reel in? Bill Guerin wants to make an impact addition and if they do acquire Kyrou, does he truly bring them to the next level? [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail...

• Brad Marchand becomes 102nd player in NHL history to score 1,000 points. [TheScore]
• The Toronto Maple Leafs are down bad. After having a 2-0 lead, they have suffered a 4-3 overtime loss to the visiting Los Angeles Kings. It's now their fourth straight loss and a whole lot of questions will be asked. [Sportsnet]
• It's the look of a hockey player. NHL players with missing teeth -- why don't they fix them? [The Athletic]