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5 reasons why Minnesota Wild will win Stanley Cup

By David Rouben

ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 2: The Minnesota Wild celebrate defeating Edmonton Oilers 3-0 after the game on April 2, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Oilers 3-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
ST PAUL, MN - APRIL 2: The Minnesota Wild celebrate defeating Edmonton Oilers 3-0 after the game on April 2, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Oilers 3-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 9: Head coach Bruce Boudreau of the Minnesota Wild looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena March 9, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)’n
VANCOUVER, BC – MARCH 9: Head coach Bruce Boudreau of the Minnesota Wild looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena March 9, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)’n /

2. Bruce Boudreau wants to right his playoff wrongs

Bruce Boudreau is one of the best coaches in the NHL. In 11 seasons of coaching, he has eight division titles and has only missed the playoffs once. He has managed to keep his team in playoff contention this year even in a stacked Central Division. It’s hard to argue with consistency like that, but many have due to his record in the playoffs.

It remains the biggest elephant in the room. He didn’t get out of the second round until he joined the Anaheim Ducks, and even then, he lost a Game 7 at home to the Chicago Blackhawks. In his coaching career, his record in Game 7s is an unspectacular 1-7, and his failure to get over the hump is why he got fired by both the Washington Capitals and Ducks.

It’s hard to fault someone for his playoff record when the playoffs themselves are such a crapshoot. But a record like that stands out, particularly when it comes with heightened expectations. This season, though, may be Boudreau’s most under-the-radar season as a coach. That’s largely because his team finished third and doesn’t have home-ice advantage in the playoffs.

Boudreau is definitely aware of what his critics have said about him and is eager to right those wrongs. Nothing would shut them up more than coming up big in a season when nobody is giving his team a chance to advance past the first round.

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