Maybe this is a no brainer.
Devan Dubnyk has posted three consecutive shutouts and hasn't given up a goal in 195 minutes, 5 seconds -- a new personal record. But Wild backup goalie Alex Stalock is collecting some serious rust, having not played since Nov. 6 at Boston and not started since Halloween.
So, what goes into the decision on whom to start Thursday, when defending Western Conference champ Nashville comes to town?
"There's no decision," coach Bruce Boudreau said after Wednesday's practice. "I think pretty well we know who's starting."
Yes, Dubnyk will be back between the pipes.
The Wild, meanwhile, will look to improve a power play that is just 2-for-30 in its past 10 games. It's been almost the exact opposite story on the penalty kill, as opponents are just 2-for-33 on the power play in the past 10 games.
"Oh, there's lots of room to improve," Boudreau said. "I think people forget: I think our record at this time last year was 9-7-2 not 8-7-2 [like it is now]. And our power play was lingering near the bottom, and then we went on a tear. And not that the same thing can happen every year, but this is where we were last year, so there's no reason to think we can't improve upon anything."
