2009-10 Game Sixty-Eight: Wild 4, Blues 2

If the Minnesota Wild finish out the remaining games on their schedule playing the way they have for the last two, it's going to be an entertaining finish. Backed into a wall for their playoff lives, the Wild are playing like they have nothing to lose, and, as a result, put together two of the more impressive wins they've had this season.

Take nothing away from the come-from-behind victories, but watching the Wild dominate the play from the opening puck drop has been few and far between. Seeing them weather an offensive flurry with some smart defense and better goaltending has been more common, but it's often been to keep the team down by only a goal, as opposed to up by a couple. Given the number of injuries that the team has been dealing with (yet another player went down before the game against St. Louis), if the Wild can somehow keep this current surge going, it's going to be quite the ride for the boys from St. Paul.

Game pluses:
- Mikko Koivu. The Wild's heart and soul played like it. Koivu was everywhere on the ice, and he notched another multi-point game to lead the Wild to victory.
- Martin Havlat. Yes, sometimes Havlat fools even himself with his puck handling. Still, the two assists he added to his season total both came thanks to stellar plays by the winger.
- Josh Harding. No, he wasn't as scintillating as he was the previous game against Buffalo, but Harding didn't need to be. What he was this time around was just a solid presence in the net, keeping St. Louis out when it really counted.

Game minuses:
- Injuries. No doubt, the Wild need to find a way to get players healthy. Three defensemen are out, and they almost lost a fourth. Wingers are banged up, shortening the Wild bench. The goaltenders haven't both been healthy for a long stretch in quite some time. To maintain this pace, the Wild need players back, and they need them back badly.
- Discipline. Once again, the Wild marched to the penalty box. They only coughed up one power play goal, but good teams limit those chances by taking better care of their sticks and moving their legs more.
- Final push. The Wild found themselves up 3-0 after the first period, and they chased the St. Louis goaltender. What did they follow up with? Not taking shots, and not driving to the net. Instead, they sat back and held onto the lead. In today's NHL, the best defense is continuing to apply offensive pressure, but part of the Wild's old system keeps creeping back in once they've got a couple goal lead.

Next up: The Wild have a day off, but return to the ice against the Edmonton Oilers.