Still unhappy with the way his team played in Thursday's 2-1 loss to Edmonton at Xcel Energy Center, Wild coach John Torchetti put his team through one of its most intense practices in recent memory.
The workout was filled with battle drills, working without the puck, maintaining a presence in front of the net, getting the puck low and working the cycle. In short, pretty much everything the team didn't do in that loss.
"Well, we wanted to get a little bit of battles going," Torchetti said. "And then carry it over into the next game. … I don't think we got what we wanted last night, the desperation to get the pucks deep. That was the No. 1 thing we talked about. We got to watch the film, and everyone got to watch some of their shifts, and just their puck possession time, on the little details of the puck support. And how much we've got to make sure we get pucks behind 'em and work the cycles better offensively.''
Torchetti is clearly still frustrated with how his team failed to do all of the above against Edmonton. And he's still trying to figure out why his team has been doing most of those things when on the road in recent games but not at home.
"I wish there was an answer,'' he said.
But now, with a three-game trip against non-playoff teams looming, Torchetti and the players have to hope that run of good road play continues.
"We're back on the road and we have to have a checking mentality," Torchetti said. "We have to understand we have to get pucks behind 'em.''
Here are some other notes from today's practice:
--Jason Pominville (lower body injury) was not able to practice today, and Torchetti said he wouldn't be available Saturday in Montreal. But he is going on the trip and could play before it's over.
--With that in mind, the Wild recalled Jordan Schroeder from the Iowa Wild. "Good decision," Torchetti said. "Good speed. We'll put him in the lineup, bring the pace of our team up. Schroeder wasn't at practice today – he will meet the team In Montreal.
--With Devan Dubnyk healthy and back on the ice for practice, the Wild sent goalie Steve Michalek back to Iowa. Dubnyk is ready to play, but Torchetti wasn't about to divulge who his goalie would be tomorrow.
--Here were the lines in practice today:
Mikko Koivu with Zach Parise and Charlie Coyle
Mikael Granlund with Jacon Zucker and Thomas Vanek
Erik Haula with Nino Niederreiter and Justin Fontaine
Jarret Stoll with with Chris Porter, David Jones and/or Ryan Carter.
It would appear Schroeder has the best chance of replacing Fontaine on the Haula line.
