Contender or Pretender: Will the Wild make the playoffs?
The Minnesota Wild have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, with a record of 8-2-2 so far. What has contributed to the Wild's success, and is it sustainable?
Goaltending
The Wild have had solid play out of their two goaltenders: primary starer Filip Gustavsson and veteran backup Marc-Andre Fleury. While neither goaltender has been perfect, Gustavsson is 6-2-1, and Fleury has yet to lose a game in regulation in his three starts. Gustavsson has a 2.33 goals against average, while Fleury has averaged 2.93 a game.
Those numbers aren't exactly eye-popping, but so far it's been good enough to keep the Wild in the win column. If the Wild can continue to get solid play out of both goaltenders, it will them get into the playoffs. Teams that have two solid goaltenders benefit in the postseason as well, as backups can start more games in the regular season to keep the starter fresh late in the year.
Kirill Kaprizov
Kirill Kaprizov is easily the Wild's best player. But so far this season, he has been one of the best players in the entire league.
Kaprizov leads the Wild in goals, assists and total points. He has 7 goals, 14 assists and 21 points in 12 games. He is tied for fourth place in the league in points with Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone. The 27-year old has been dominating the league this year, and if he can continue on his torrid pace, the Wild will have one of the NHL's most lethal offenses. Kaprizov is not the only Wild forward playing great hockey, as Matts Zuccarello and Matt Boldy have enjoyed good starts to their respective seasons. Zuccarello has 11 points and Boldy has scored 13, both playing in all 12 games. The Wild will play the struggling San Jose Sharks tonight at 10:30 p.m.
Dark horse?
The question now becomes whether or not the Wild will be a threat in the postseason.
As of right now, it is a little early to tell, as there is still plenty of season to be played. However, I find it likely that the Wild have a good shot at making it to the postseason. With the early struggles of the usual powerhouses in the Central Division such as the Avalanche and the Predators, there is a path to the finish line. However, the Wild will need to play at the level their playing at right now for the rest of the season, and that is up to head coach John Hynes and the rest of the Wild to continue to improve. The Avalanche will be healthy soon, and when they are, the Wild will need to be ready.