Wild Hits Key Stretch With Key Player In Net
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- They have won five straight and play another key game Monday night against the Vancouver Canucks. You get the feeling they will all be key games from here on out if they want to make the playoffs.
But is the team's newest addition between the pipes enough to get them into the postseason? The Wild held its workout Monday morning, keenly aware of what tonight means and who they play.
"We know what kind of team they are and it's going to be a real tough game," Mikael Granlund said.
But the player who has everybody buzzing at Xcel Energy Center is a 6 foot, 6 inch goaltender who they think might be the missing piece for a playoff run.
Devan Dubnyk was honored for what he did last week, named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday. But it's hardly a time to enjoy.
"I'll probably try to sit down on Wednesday and take a minute and really enjoy it because we've got a couple big games coming up here. But I just try to enjoy it that little bit more," Dubnyk said.
What he has done as much as anything is change the attitude of the team. He's given them a boost of confidence.
"It's been awesome. He's given us a boatload of confidence and that's what we needed. He's been playing great," Charlie Coyle said.
But he's 6-6, why didn't he want to play basketball? Because he saw what that really means.
"Whenever anybody tells me I should play basketball I always mention that LeBron James is three inches taller than me and significantly more skilled with the basketball," Dubnyk said. "So I don't think my height is big enough to be a basketball player."
Yes, he's not your normal goalie in a number of ways. He even breaks a common superstition for his position: He talks on game days and before games.
"I'm not a superstitious guy. I'm very big on routines for sure," Dubnyk said. "It's just something I tried to stay away from when I was younger."
