SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Wild's franchise-high seven straight road games have been spaced out so far, with the team returning to the Twin Cities twice after crossing off the first three contests.
But the trek will end in a flurry this week amid three tests in four nights, a frenetic finish that seems to underscore the significance of Tuesday's matchup in San Jose against the Sharks.
"The first game of the week is really important," coach Bruce Boudreau said. "I think playing one of the Stanley Cup favorites, especially to come out of the West, is a big game for us, and it could set the tone for the week. That's the way we're looking at it, and we're hoping we can continue to play along the lines of how we played in St. Louis. If we can do that, I think we'll be competitive."
This run away from Xcel Energy Center has been positive so far for the Wild, as it sits 2-1 after rolling by the Blues 5-1 Saturday in St. Louis.
Look for the Sharks, though, to present a unique challenge with not one but two elite players on their blue line in Brent Burns and Erik Karlsson.
"We do we have to acknowledge the fact that one of those guys are on the ice almost all the time," Boudreau said. "The one thing that it adds to San Jose [is] they got four men in the rush almost all the time. So your forwards really got to be aware that they can't sit when the puck goes somewhere else and watch. They gotta be moving their legs because San Jose is coming up with four guys."
Still, the Wild should be a confident group.
It's won seven of its last eight games, a consistency that Boudreau attributes to how well each player's been able to embrace his responsibilities.
