This could be it

Tonight is Game 5 in Dallas with the Wild down three games to one. It’s familiar territory, yet it’s still totally different. This could very well be the final game of the season for the Wild. No matter how we’ve felt about this team, it’s always a bummer when the season is officially over. At least for me.

The last time I wrote, I went in an unusual direction (for me) and took a look at the positives. You know, what it would take for the Wild to beat Dallas this series. Then Game 1 happened, and the first few minutes of Game 3, and I once again realized why I tend to drift toward negativity/reality more often. It’s better to have low expectations so you can be pleasantly surprised when good things happen, right?

So, the Wild are up against the wall again. Aren’t they always? They were down 3-1 a couple times in 2003 – the magical playoff run that we all love to drool over. But this isn’t 2003. The Wild are the 8 seed playing against a top team with lots of depth. The Wild have consistently shuffled their lineup and scratched different players throughout the series. That’s not the mark of a team that’s destined to have much success, in my opinion.

That said, I don’t think anyone would be wise to bet against this team. Just when you think they’re down and out, they show up and play like all stars. So who knows?

Game 5 will be a tough test in Dallas; I don’t think there’s any debate there. The Stars will be at home wanting to take care of business so they can rest up for the next series. They don’t want to drop a game to the Wild, because then the series and momentum shifts back to Minnesota. It’s fascinating to me how a 3-1 series (with the home-ice team being up) can turn on a dime if the road team steals Game 5.

Anyway, the Wild could completely fold the tents tonight. Or, they could show up and play well. It might not be well enough to counter the Stars or possibly another skate goal, however. With a loss, the Wild would lose the series 4-1 and be free to enjoy their golf course of choice for the summer.

If that happens, it will still be tough. I know we like to analyze, get all upset about their lack of effort, etc. But at the end of the day, fans are fans, bloggers are bloggers. It’s always hard to see the season end for a team you’re invested in, no matter how they played.

As I watched the last few minutes of Game 4 hoping for a tying goal from the Wild, I was sitting on my couch with nervous anticipation. Still invested in the team. It was hard seeing the chances fail to connect, plus the usual passing clinic rather than firing shots at the net (still so frustrating). But they had a chance, and since they were so close I admit I really couldn’t help but wonder how much the series would change with a late Wild victory to tie the series.

That didn’t happen. So now they’re on the brink of elimination. It’s still hard to be optimistic that the series will extend for a Game 6. Everything else about this season and this team aside, it comes down to one game tonight, really. It’s always a toss up to see which team arrives on the ice – the one that’s ready to play from puck drop, or the one that takes the first period to get its legs under it.

We just don’t know. But we’ll watch anyway. Besides, there’s one thing we do know: This could be it.

This was originally posted at WildXtra.com.