SB Nation Minnesota - Wild Vs. Sharks: Minnesota Tries To Hang On In Playoff Racehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48959/mn-fave.png2012-01-11T07:13:51-06:00http://minnesota.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24631912012-01-11T07:13:51-06:002012-01-11T07:13:51-06:00Wild Vs. Sharks: Minnesota Gains Much Needed Overtime Win
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pfJtY_zyT9RwaILv42EHOQj9BN0=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828125/large_minnesota.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win to break their long losing streak with a late two goal lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">San Jose Sharks</a>. After giving up goals to <span>Logan Couture</span> and <span>Patrick Marleau</span> with 22 seconds of each other, the fun was just beginning.</p>
<p>Those goals tied Tuesday's game at 4-4, but Minnesota was able to get goals from <span>Matt Cullen</span> and <span>Mikko Koivu</span> in the shootout while <span>Josh Harding</span> saved both of San Jose's attempts in a much-needed 5-4 shootout victory for the Wild. Minnesota entered the contest having lost 11 of its past 12, so the two points were a <a href="http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2012/1/10/2698188/minnesota-wild-vs-san-jose-sharks-game-recap">welcome relief after a long dry spell</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>All in all it was a pretty good effort, until the last ten minutes of the third. For a team that needed a win... a win's a win. The happy story lines win out tonight, with the loss of Bouchard and the discipline of Setoguchi taking a back seat for one night.</p>
<p>They needed this one.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><i>For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out <a href="http://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Hockey Wilderness</a>. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">SBNation.com/NHL</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/1/11/2699151/wild-vs-sharks-minnesota-gains-much-needed-overtime-winTravis Miller2012-01-10T08:19:59-06:002012-01-10T08:19:59-06:00Wild Vs. Sharks: Minnesota Tries To Hang On In Playoff Race
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/skPh8WRnjB5OF9s3gh05JNq1NZY=/0x0:600x400/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/1635862/GYI0062978027.jpg" />
<figcaption>Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out <a href="http://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Hockey Wilderness</a>. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">SBNation.com/NHL</a>.</p> <p>Just a few weeks ago the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Minnesota Wild</a> had the best record in the NHL. Now they currently hold the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. That illustrates how tight the playoff chase is and how costly Minnesota's losing streak has been.</p>
<p>Only 10 points separate first place Vancouver from 11th place Phoenix in the west, and Minnesota is only seven points behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.nucksmisconduct.com/">Canucks</a> in both the division and the overall Western Conference lead. tonight the Wild hosts the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fearthefin.com/">San Jose Sharks</a>, who are one of those teams fighting for the Western Conference playoffs. San Jose is currently third in the west with 50 points, and they lead the Pacific Division.</p>
<p>Minnesota has lost 11 of its past 12 games to fall off the pace in the West. Five of those losses have come either by one goal or via shootout loss, meaning Minnesota is not that far off of getting back into their winning ways.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Minnesota Wild, check out <a href="http://www.hockeywilderness.com/">Hockey Wilderness</a>. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at <a href="http://sbnation.com/nhl">SBNation.com/NHL</a>.</i></p>
https://minnesota.sbnation.com/minnesota-wild/2012/1/10/2696385/wild-vs-sharks-minnesota-tries-to-hang-on-in-playoff-raceTravis Miller