Minnesota Wild: 2010 Playoff Contenders?

Minnesota has finally found a way to win and win often. The Wild are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and for just the fourth time in team history Minnesota found a way to win at the Pengrowth Saddle Dome last night 2-1 in OT.

Wild fans should have some hope for the playoffs, but it will not be until next year when they reach the playoffs once more.

Minnesota is winning, but they are needing extra sessions to do it. Yes, take the two points but your also giving your opponent one point in the process and because of the rough start this team has had they cannot afford to give anybody even one point.

The truth is more crucial against division opponents where Minnesota has clawed its way back and made the always competitive Northwest division a tight race one more.

However even with its record the last 10 games the Wild are still in last place, granted there is only one point separating fifth and third place.

Minnesota has got to find a way to get it done in regulation giving their opponents nothing and taking home all the glory.

What is especially promising for this team is that with the injuries they have had how well this team has played.

Brent Burns, Pierre Marc-Bouchard, Petr Sykora, and Andrew Ebbot all are sitting out of the line-up with post-concussion symptoms.

Most impressively is how the team has turned around since the additions of Andrew Ebbot and Guilemme Lantandresse.

Both players have contributed offensively and in big time situations. Ebbot has already scored a game winner in overtime, and Latandresse has used his body to be a physical power forward who can find the twine.

If Minnesota can get healthy, and still continue this winning streak they may have a shot this year at making the playoffs.

Minnesota will have some depth to their roster and every line has been contributing.

Last but not least the team has finally take the new system under Head Coach Todd Richards under their control.

Richards commented about one week ago in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the team is starting to ask each other for help and direction rather than him which is a sign of the team understanding the new system and now are running with it.

The next game for Minnesota will be tonight against Vancouver at General Motors place as the Wild look for their third straight win.