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Wild’s Koivu: Kind of game we’ve been playing lately is embarrassing

David Perron, Mikko Koivu, Niklas Backstrom

David Perron, Mikko Koivu, Niklas Backstrom

AP

The Minnesota Wild hit a new low on Tuesday when they suffered a 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was their 12th loss in 14 contests and sixth defeat in a row.

After the game, the Wild held a players-only meeting and while the particulars weren’t revealed, it wouldn’t be hard to guess the tone of that discussion.

“The only way is to do a lot of things better,” Wild captain Mikko Koivu said, per the Star Tribune. “It’s not one thing or two things. It’s a lot of things that have to change. The way we play, the way we do things on a daily basis. It’s everything. Every single detail. Everything. It has to be better. With this effort and the kind of game we’ve been playing lately, it’s embarrassing and every single guy should feel that.”

If you’re getting a sense of deja vu, it’s because Wild coach Mike Yeo also said “everything” was wrong with Minnesota on Saturday. Given that his team has since been outscored 11-3, it seems his words didn’t light a spark under them. Instead, the Wild have done little to prove him wrong.

Zach Parise alluded to as much when he pointed out that they’ve been asking how they should get out of this slump for about three weeks now.

“We’re not getting out of it,” Parise said. “We’re so easy to play against. We lose battles, we don’t bump off draws, the details of our game are terrible. We don’t even make it hard on the other team. They tic-tac-toe right around us. Can’t happen.”

On top of all of that, the Wild might have to go on without defenseman Ryan Suter as he has a hearing regarding his high hit on Steve Downie last night.

The Wild are eight points out of a playoff spot as they prepare for Thursday’s game against Buffalo.

Related:

Roenick: It’s time to fire Wild coach Mike Yeo

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