Since posting a shutout in their season opener, the Minnesota Wild have not put up much defensive resistance this season.
The Wild hope to avoid a third straight loss when they continue their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Minnesota blanked the St. Louis Blues 5-0 on Oct. 9 behind 26 saves from Filip Gustavsson. However, in the four games since, the Wild have surrendered 20 goals while losing three times.
After dropping a 5-2 decision to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday in the first game of the trip, the Wild struggled again in a 5-1 defeat to the Washington Capitals on Friday.
Gustavsson started the past two games and four of the team’s five overall, so he could be in line for a rest on Saturday. He made a season-high 40 saves in the Friday setback.
“Gus did everything he could tonight. That’s just not acceptable from top to bottom,” Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber said postgame of his team’s overall effort. “You (need to) regroup as quick as you can.”
That puts extra emphasis on the showdown with the Flyers, as Minnesota looks to earn a win on the road trip before heading off to face the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils.
“Obviously it’s probably better to get right back at it,” Wild coach John Hynes said.
Marcus Johansson scored the lone goal for the Wild at Washington. Matt Boldy and Kiril Kaprizov led Minnesota with four goals apiece this season, while the rest of the team has combined for seven.
“We’ve got to play with the puck more, first of all,” Johansson said. “I think it starts there. Defend a little harder, kill plays quicker and go the other way and try to hold on to the puck a little more.”
Philadelphia is coming off a 5-2 home loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, concluding a difficult four-game stretch to begin the season. The Flyers went 1-2-1 against the Jets, the reigning President Trophy winners; the Carolina Hurricanes, another title contender; and two matchups with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
“We played well,” Flyers winger Travis Konecny said. “I think for the most part we can take a lot of positives from the first four (games).”
Philadelphia goaltender Sam Ersson allowed four goals on 14 shots in the loss to Winnipeg. Coach Rick Tocchet likely will go back to Dan Vladar in net for the Saturday affair.
“Every game is a chance and this is a chance in itself,” Ersson said. “Just got to do a better job with the shots I get.”
Owen Tippett, who scored one of the Flyers’ goals against the Jets, sounded after the game as if he would appreciate a bit more juice out of the Philadelphia crowd.
“There wasn’t a lot of energy in the building,” Tippett said, “but it’s going to happen. You’re going to go to rinks where there are games like that. It’s a long season. Just have to figure things out when they aren’t going your way.”
The Flyers defeated the Wild 7-5 in Philadelphia last October before losing the rematch 4-1 at Minnesota in December.
