The puck bounced off the top of the net and when Marcus Foligno swung at the carom, he connected for a line drive into the twine.
"Just a little bunt in there," Foligno said. "Nice to see it hit the back bar and come right back to me."
That goal in the Wild's 3-0 shutout of Calgary on Saturday was Foligno's first in 19 games and fifth overall, a notable decline from the career-high 23 he posted last season, but the veteran winger doesn't want to concentrate too much on his output. Instead, he's preparing his game for the playoffs after being in and out of the lineup.
"That's the end goal really," he said, "is just to be ready to go come the time it really, really matters."
Foligno has been sidelined for 14 games due to injury or illness, most recently because of a hip flexor issue. While he acknowledged those absences make it a challenge to be a voice as an alternate captain, they've also made it tough to get into a rhythm on the ice.
But what he believes is a must is the "straightforward" style that has been his calling card throughout his Wild tenure.
"The physical, the finishing checks, the forecheck, it's part of my game," Foligno said, "and that's the things that I just gotta solidify."
Familiar faces
Oskar Sundqvist made his Wild debut on Tuesday after his trade from Detroit while skating alongside Foligno, and the two talked before becoming teammates.
