The Minnesota Wild try to edge ever closer to the playoffs when they take on the struggling Dallas Stars.
It’s almost time for the NHL playoffs (A tick over two weeks away) and teams are hoarding points like rare Easter eggs. For Minnesota, currently third in the Central Division, the task is straight-forward: Win a few more games, keep the bubble teams at bay and you’re guaranteed to be in.
But with three of their final six against would-be contenders, Thursday’s match-up with Dallas is pivotal to their surviving the final week.
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
Date: Thursday, March 29
Location: Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: Fubo.TV
This might prove to be a make-or-break series for the Wild. It’s certainly a game that Minnesota has to win. With a trip to the west coast finishing off their regular season, and with Colorado and St. Louis pounding on the door, they can’t afford to falter and give away points.
Dallas, on the other hand, is set to be declared an exclusion zone after its Chernobyl-like meltdown. Once considered a lock for the playoffs, the Stars have gone belly-up and fallen to 10th in the Western Conference.
Their meeting with Minnesota comes on the heels of an epic and franchise-worst eight game slide. That includes this beauty of an ender with 11 seconds left.
Absolutely no quit. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/727mVJtgMR
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 24, 2018
Instead of battling now for third in the division, questions surround as to whether or not they should tank the final slew of games.
Thursday’s contest marks the third of four meetings between the two. They’ve split the series so far and will regroup again in Dallas on Saturday. And while Minnesota has remained fairly healthy, the Stars have been without key players for a while.
Jason Spezza for Dallas made his return against the Flyers. Goaltender Ben Bishop has missed 10 of the previous 11 and is likely gone for this season. Center Martin Hanzal recently underwent back surgery and is also out for the remainder.
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The Wild have picked up points in five of their last six and need to take advantage of a floundering Dallas team if they want any chance at stamping their ticket to the NHL playoffs.