From week to week, the Wild don't do much in the standings. Win one, lose two, lose one in overtime, watch as your competition wins two and loses one. Without a doubt, the players are working hard, but that hard work just has not been hard enough this week.
Niklas Backstrom looks like a man defeated, having given up 5, 6, and 7 goals against in his past three starts. The team boasts 18 players who have a negative plus / minus rating. Their top shut down forward, John Madden, is a terrifying -11. The team goal differential? Minus 9.
The Power Rankings as of late have not punished the team for their poor performances, mostly because the teams south of the Wild have performed even more poorly. Is this the week the Wild take the lunge? Wander the NHL Power Rankings with us and find out.