Following a disappointing stretch, the Minnesota Wild are eager to turn their fortunes around as they prepare for their upcoming match against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Having lost five out of their last six games, the team is in need of a spark.
After a narrow 5-4 defeat to the Calgary Flames on Saturday, Wild coach John Hynes issued a strong challenge to his players.
“Now we’re choosing to lose,” Hynes stated. “That’s hard. Losing’s not easy. Winning’s not easy. We’ve got to get back to the commitment level that it takes to win. The mentality, the fire, the competitiveness, the depth in the lineup. Right now, it’s not enough. It’s not enough.”
In the third period, Marco Rossi contributed assists on all three of Minnesota’s goals, bringing his season total to 43 points, which exceeds the 40 he achieved during the 2023-24 season.
However, persistent issues plagued the Wild, allowing the Flames to take early control of the game. Minnesota conceded two power-play goals, marking a total of seven allowed while shorthanded in the last six games.
The Wild did showcase improvement with a season-high 11 takeaways against the Flames.
Chicago Blackhawks Face Overtime Struggles
On a positive note, the Chicago Blackhawks began their four-game homestand on January 18 by defeating the playoff-contending Vegas Golden Knights 5-3.
However, they followed that victory with two consecutive 4-3 overtime losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning, both of which are in contention for playoff positions in the Eastern Conference.
During Friday’s game, Chicago jumped to a 3-1 lead against the Lightning early in the second period but was unable to maintain that lead. Tampa Bay outshot the Blackhawks 40-14 in all, including a staggering 18-1 in the third period and overtime.
“That’s the part of the season we’re struggling with: the ‘could’ves, should’ves,’ instead of just getting it done,” expressed Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno.
Roster Changes and Emerging Talent
As the game comes to play, Chicago made a major move by trading forward Taylor Hall to Carolina as part of a three-team deal. This decision led to considerable reflection among players in the locker room.
“We have no one else to blame but ourselves, really, in putting ourselves in the situation where they have to start thinking about the future and selling off,” Foligno remarked. “It’s not a fun feeling for anybody in here.”
Despite another challenging season, Chicago aims to continue nurturing its young talent. With only 35 points so far, they have the second-fewest in the NHL.
Connor Bedard, last season’s NHL Rookie of the Year, registered an assist on Friday and has accumulated at least one point in 13 of his last 15 games. He leads the team in both assists and points.
Rookie Colton Dach made headlines by scoring his first career goal, while fellow newcomers Louis Crevier and Frank Nazar each contributed a goal and an assist.
Historically, Minnesota has had the upper hand in their previous three meetings this season against the Blackhawks, winning two of those games, all decided by just one goal.
The last encounter ended with a 4-3 victory for the Wild at home on December 23, featuring contributions from ten different players, including two assists from Yakov Trenin.
For the Blackhawks, Teuvo Teravainen has been a thorn in Minnesota’s side with 13 points in his last 12 games against them, though he has yet to score against the Wild this season.
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