Minnesota Wild knows that time goes short with 22 games left in the regular season.
The Wild also knows that they play briefly without several prominent players, including top scorer Kirill Kaprizov and steady veteran Joel Eriksson Ek.
“We have no choice,” said forward mats Zuccarello. “We miss some really important guys in our team, but that’s the reality in it. We have to find a way in here.”
Minnesota will try to snap a three-game losing line when it meets against Boston Bruins on Sunday afternoon in Saint Paul, Minn. The Wild is looking for its first victory since February 22.
At the same time, Boston is looking for his second victory in as many days. Bruins comes from a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh Penguins on the road Saturday afternoon.
David Pastrnak had a goal and an assist in the victory. He will lead a 17-game point in Sunday’s matchup against The Wild.
“We are convinced,” Pastrnak said. “(I) playing and hanging on the puck when I have to.”
Bruins are waiting to learn more about the status of team captain Brad Marchand, who left the game on Saturday due to an upper body injury after he was hit hard into the boards.
Boston coach Joe Sacco said that the team should know more about March and Sunday.
“Overall, I thought the guys responded very well,” Sacco said about the hit that injured Marchand.
The Wild will play for the first time since he acquired Gustav Nyquist from Nashville Predators on Saturday. The team is hopeful that Nyquist will be available to join its new teammates for the game with Bruins.
Nyquist, 35, had 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 57 matches with Nashville this season. He picked up 75 points a season ago with predators.
This will be Nyquist’s second stint with Minnesota. He showed up in three regular season games with the team 2022-23 before listing five points in six playoffs.
Boston is likely to turn to Jeremy Swayman in Net one day after Joonas Korpisalo handled Pittsburgh goals. Swayman is 18-19-6 with a 3.00 goal-for average and .897 Savings percent in 43 matches.
The wild will probably counteract with Filip Gustavsson, which is 22-13-3 with a 2.68 GAA and .912 Savings percentage in 39 matches. Veteran Backup Marc-Andre Fleury gave up six goals in its latest performance against Utah Hockey Club last week.
The Minnesota coach John Hynes said he was sure of Wild’s ability to play far down the route.
“Our team has risen to the challenge all year round,” Hynes said. “We have had some setbacks along the way, and as always, I think you take the lessons out of it. I think we have learned some pretty good lessons.
“We know the details that you have to play with. We must make sure that on Sunday we have these details along with the effort and competitiveness required to win an NHL game.”
-Field level media
