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Slumping Wild hitting ‘tough’ part of schedule

Roman Josi, Devan Dubnyk, Mike Ribeiro, Jared Spurgeon

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, of Switzerland, bottom right, scores a goal against Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) as Predators’ Mike Ribeiro (63) and Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) watch the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. The Predators won 3-0. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)

AP

The Minnesota Wild have hit a bit of a rough patch.

Again.

Yes, this is something the Wild do from time to time. The last time was in November, when they went 1-4-2 over a seven-game stretch and Ryan Suter said some things he later regretted.

The Wild also had a monster slump last season, during which coach Mike Yeo had a monster tantrum.

Their latest slump has seen them lose four straight in regulation, including their last two via shutout. Possession-wise, they haven’t been very good in their last 10 games. They’re 2-5-2 in January.

“No matter how much it frustrates you and how much you’re not happy with it, it happens to everybody,” Wild GM Chuck Fletcher told the Star Tribune. “So you battle through. For us it tends to happen when we get tired and run down, and unfortunately we’re going through a tough part of the schedule.”

Indeed they are. Minnesota’s next three games are on the road in Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose, against three Pacific Division teams that are playing some pretty good hockey lately. After that, they return home to play Arizona, before leaving on another tough three-game trip, this one at the Islanders, Rangers, and Blues. And when they get home from that, Dallas, Washington, and Boston pay visits.

The good news is that, in the past, the Wild have emerged from these slumps.

But they’d better start emerging soon, because their playoff cushion is down to four points.