Assign as much or as little credit to Bruce Boudreau as you’d like, but either way, the Minnesota Wild have enjoyed quite the surge this season.
Much has been made of Eric Staal’s revitalization, but Mikko Koivu’s gone back to being that quietly outstanding forward who was once prominent on many an underrated players list. Meanwhile, after years of people wondering when flashes of brilliance would finally formulate into full-time dominance, Mikael Granlund is enjoying a breakthrough season.
In a connection between old (Koivu) and new (Granlund), you can see a sublime bit of skill as the two combined for a sweet shorthanded goal against the Hurricanes on Thursday.