Wild keeping an eye on standings but taking destiny into own hands

ST. PAUL --Minnesota has four days between games before completing its final push to the end of the regular season. But it's certainly no vacation.
Following a team day off Tuesday, the Wild held a skating-heavy practice at Xcel Energy Center. With two more days of practice remaining before this weekend's back-to-back, players headed back to the rink Wednesday morning with sound expectations of the work ahead of them.

"It's usually always hard after a day off, but you know, we get a few days here before our next game so we kind of all expected it," said Wild defenseman Nate Prosser.
"I wanted to make it a little harder, I mean, we've only got pretty well one more practice left before the end of the season," said coach Bruce Boudreau. "If you don't have a good skate, come playing the best team in the League [on Saturday] you might be a little behind pace here."
The last stretch -- nine games in 15 days -- can be a strain both mentally and physically; getting a good start against the Nashville Predators could do wonders for setting the tone.

While the best the Avalanche, the top wild card team, can do during the Wild's downtime is draw even with 90 points, there isn't much Minnesota can do about it except watch the standings and keep the wins coming beginning on Saturday.
"We sit idle now til Saturday and we're gonna see some teams that probably inch a little closer or go a little further away, but we're not solely focused in on what other teams are doing," Prosser said. "We're making sure we're taking care of our business, and we've got a tough nine-game stretch here."
Four of the five games remaining in March are against Central Division opponents. Then, Minnesota will wrap up its season with a California road trip, difficult due to both the time difference and caliber of teams along the West Coast - some of whom, like the Anaheim Ducks, who the Wild play on April 4, are battling for wild card positions of their own.
"There's no comfort at all," Boudreau said. "I go through the lists 20 times a day and who they play and the ramifications … but that's what this time of year is all about and that's what makes sports so exciting."
Wild captain Mikko Koivu takes a different approach in handling the looming pressure of the playoff shuffle: disconnecting.
"You'd rather play than have four days in between … but I think you want to use that time with your family and kind of stay away from the game and recharge," Koivu said. "Mentally you want to just kind of reset.
"You earn where you are at the end of the season, and like I said, I think we worry about more the way we need to play right now and improve as a team than worry about the standings."

Seeler reflects on Lucia stepping down

On Tuesday, the University of Minnesota announced that men's hockey coach, Don Lucia, would step down after 19 seasons with the program. Per Lucia's press conference, the coach decided to step away from the program ahead of his 60th birthday to spend more time with family.
Wild defenseman and Eden Prairie native Nick Seeler transferred to the University of Minnesota in 2014, and played one season for the Golden Gophers in 2015-16 under Lucia before going pro.
"What a career he had, pretty crazy to look back," Seeler said. "I was lucky enough to be a part of that for a couple years and he gave me an opportunity to play for the Gophers which I was extremely grateful for and I'll always remember that."
Related:
- Wild gains critical points ahead of four-day break - Central Intelligence: Minnesota's place in the current playoff picture