Its easy to pick-up that cup of Wild Kool-Aid, especially with two straight wins, and drink it all up. Yes, Minnesota has two wins in a row, and look like they are on the up and up after a terrible stretch of hockey. When it seemed like The Wild were definitely teetering on the brink of completely tanking, now they have put themselves back into the Northwest Division, with a slim (very slim) two point lead over Calgary. We’re all good, right?

No. Yes, we have the skill, the defense, the goalten….well, maybe. But we absolutely lack playoff intensity.

It was apparent in the Calgary game from last Sunday; the game was for 1st place! How could you not get up for that? How about the Anaheim/Calgary game last night? Apparently that game reeked off playoff atmosphere; it was a tight, hard-fought, physical game. To me, that’s what playoff hockey is, and Calgary and Anaheim are built for the playoffs. They play a tight game, and hit hard. When put into this context, doesn’t the Chris Simon trade make sense? I’m not concerned about the talent we have, our system, our defense (the tandem of Kim Johnsson and Martin Skoula is playing incredible right now), etc., but they absolutely have to start to show a spark or an edge to the final 17 games, which serve as a percursor/audition for the big-time. The final 17 is loaded with Division opponents, and a team like San Jose sprinkled in there, so the playoff atmosphere begins now. I do think a lesson was learned from last year’s playoffs, as to what it takes to be successful in the playoffs- Anaheim’s formula has become a gold standard of sort. You got your skill guys, but then you have the physical forecheckers on the lower lines, who create space.

We’ve added a Voros, a Fedoruk, and a Simon; but its up to everyone else to bring that intangible or else the Wild are nothing but a pretender.

*shameless self-promotion*

Check out my blog at Deuce by Definition for more Wild banter, Prospect Reports, and assorted Skull Duggery.