Put a positive spin on it

So, I’m going to do something a little different here, what with the entire universe picking the Wild to get creamed by the Dallas Stars in the first round. Let’s look at why the Minnesota Wild could win this round.

I know, I know, how can we get on board with that, right? All the statistics are against the Wild, plus the pesky injury bug has hit locker room. Well, let’s take a look.

It’s about streaks
This Wild team is full of ups and downs, as we all know. They win a few, then they jump off a cliff for a few games. And so it goes. To end the regular season – which arguably doesn’t mean anything once the page turns to the postseason (an argument I don’t totally but into) – the Wild dropped five games in a row. Then they should be on schedule to win a few games, right? It’s how they roll.

Looking ahead
Dallas could easily take this series lightly. I mean, they’re the top seed in the Western Conference, heavily favored to beat up on the players from their former state. Dallas is stacked with some good talent, to be sure, but even the best players and best teams can look past opponents when the matchup seems lopsided.

On paper v. on the ice
I can’t get the expression out of my head: “That’s why you don’t play the games on paper.” And “that’s why they play the games.” We all think (or many of us) the Wild will lose to the Stars and it won’t be close. That’s what makes me think they could surprise everybody. This team has done it before. Heck, in that terrible January they had, they managed to beat Dallas 2-1 - in Dallas. They can play with the top teams; they swept the season series of Chicago. When this Wild team is playing well, it plays really playing well.

Players get hot
The postseason is often where players come out of the woodwork and shine for their teams. Teams can get hot at the right times, and so can players. Maybe Devan Dubnyk will become that stone wall we all saw during last year’s second half. We’ve seen Erik Haula shine in the playoffs before. Heck, even Mikael Granlund had that awesome overtime goal against Colorado a couple years ago. What’s cool about this factor is it’s usually some low-key player, a youngster or basically just a non-star (no pun intended) on the team. With Zach Parise and Thomas Vanek out hurt, it’s a perfect chance for somebody else to step up. Charlie Coyle, Granlund, Jason Zucker. You never know, and that’s what is cool about it.

Beware of the flukes
Things can get chippy in the playoffs. Maybe it’s a close game and a fluke bounce wins it. Who’s to say the Wild won’t get one of those bounces? To borrow from “Angels in the Outfield,” “It could happen.” Grab a quick lead in a game or steal one on the road, and it can turn a series around. The momentum would really shift if that underdog team – the Wild – could capitalize on some of those flukes.

That’s all I’ve got. I thought there would be more solid material here, but there’s not a lot to work with. I tried.

Now, let’s hope the Wild try, too.

This was originally posted at WildXtra.com.