The Minnesota Wild hardly look like the team that was on the verge of hosting a playoff series just a few weeks ago, as they lost their fourth straight game on Thursday night, falling 3-2 to the San Jose Sharks.
Goalie Niklas Backstrom stopped 47 shots on the night, but it just wasn't enough to garner a victory for the Wild on this night, as the Sharks got the go-ahead goal on a play where Backstrom made the initial save and the puck bounced in off of Brent Burns' leg.
Over at Hockey Wilderness, they know that the chances of the Wild making the playoffs now are incredibly slim, and they're looking for answers.
Honestly, I don't think it's all on Richards. I don't think they have the personnel to make the playoffs, let alone make a run once in. Sure, it's bad when the captain is out for an extended period of time, along with one of the top four defensemen, but the fact is that these guys didn't suffer badly with Mikko Koivu and Marek Zidlicky out. Yes, missing Guillaume Latendresse all season hurt, but they were in position two weeks ago to make the playoffs without him.
So coach, which is it? The players or the coaching?
Keep an eye on Hockey Wilderness for more insight into the team.