Kunin, Eriksson Ek are bright spots for Wild in otherwise tough stretch

ST. PAUL -- The post-All-Star break slog has been a tough one for the Wild, with Minnesota having wins in just one of its seven games post layoff.
But one of the highlights has been the improved play of young forwards Luke Kunin and Joel Eriksson Ek, who have shown they are ready for increased roles as the club hits the accelerator on its stretch run towards the postseason.
Kunin scored twice on Tuesday in the Wild's 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, his first career multi-goal game in the NHL.

It's been a trend for the former Wisconsin Badger, who has been a standout for the Wild since being recalled from Iowa on Feb. 4.

Kunin has points in four of five games since his latest call-up, with three of those games being multi-point efforts.
His run of quality games actually began before the All-Star break. Kunin was seeing regular ice time in the weeks leading up to the layoff, but with the team away from the rink for eight days, the Wild wanted both Kunin and Eriksson Ek to see ice time in Iowa.
They did, often playing big minutes together in all situations in two games with Iowa before the AHL All-Star break, which commenced Jan. 26.
Because of roster moves made by Minnesota during the break, both players were left in Iowa for a stretch in the days after. Kunin was recalled before the Wild's game in Buffalo while Eriksson Ek was returned to Minnesota after Mikko Koivu went down with a season-ending injury.
While it was disappointing at the time to be sent to Iowa during the break, the extra time there did Kunin some good. He's come back a more confident, determined player.

"I feel I played more minutes when I was down there, felt more pucks. Putting the puck in the net, you're definitely feeling good and I like the chemistry Ek and I have right now," Kunin said. "We just want to keep working, that's the main thing. When the two of us are working, we're creating a lot, just keeping it simple and that's what we are trying to do."
That was certainly the case on Tuesday when the two connected for a first-period goal that gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead.
Eriksson Ek did a lot of the dirty work behind the net, maintaining control of the puck before dishing to Kunin for a quick shot that beat Anthony Stolarz high.

It was Eriksson Ek's third point in four games since his return from Iowa. Like Kunin, Ek was also playing well in the lead up to the break and is now seeing the rewards.
Perhaps even more than Kunin, the Wild needed Eriksson Ek to step up in the absence of Koivu. So far, the young Swede has realized his opportunity and taken advantage of it.
"I'm just going to try to play my best and just get out there when the coach tells me to," Eriksson Ek said.
Management has taken notice, as has the coaching staff.
Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau has routinely praised both Kunin and Eriksson Ek as two of the team's best players over the past couple of weeks. And while that's certainly an encouraging sign, the hope is that some of the veterans can also pick up their play, giving Minnesota a deep, experienced team capable of making a run.
Include rookie Jordan Greenway in that conversation as well.
"The kids are proving that they're going to be NHLers for a long time and they're playing great, Kunin and Ek, and that's really positive," Boudreau said. "Greenway could've scored four tonight, you know, from a perfect spot, so that's a positive aspect. We've got to get complete scoring from everybody. Even Spurge, every third or fourth game he's getting three or four points. But we need more."
For Kunin, the quality of his play has turned into an increase in playing time. While the 15-minute threshold used to be his ceiling, Boudreau has counted on him more and more in recent games.

That 15-minute marker has been more like his floor since returning from Iowa. On Tuesday, he was on the ice in the final minute with the team needing a goal to tie.
That confidence in the coach has translated into his play on the ice. Now the Wild is hoping Kunin's quality play can help generate more wins and points in the standings.
"As players you always want more, you always want to be relied on more and have that trust in the coach to put you out in all situations," Kunin said. "When he's doing that you've gotta perform and do the right thing and thats kind of my mindset about it. Whenever I'm getting that opportunity, make the most of it and work my hardest."
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