Wild still cantankerous as it preps for Calgary rematch

ST. PAUL -- Nearly 48 hours after its four-game Canadian road trip came to a resounding thud on the ice at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Wild players and coaches were noticeably surly following practice at TRIA Rink.
Losses have been relatively few and far between for the Wild this season, and the ones that have occurred have rarely remained in the claws of the team for very long.
But it's clear Saturday's 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Flames has had some staying power, even coming off an off day back at home after a week away from home.

Asked how the team looked on the ice in its first practice back, Wild coach Dean Evason had a short, direct answer.
"Pissed off," Evason said. "We should be. We were embarrassed. First time. It's the first time this year that we did not compete in a hockey game and we got outcompeted. And that's not who we are. The group knows that, we all know that. We got outcompeted in all areas, and not just players, we all did. We shouldn't be a very happy hockey club and we weren't today."
Wild forward Ryan Hartman indicated the road trip was frustrating beyond just the fact that Minnesota won just once in its four games in Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and Calgary.
The past four games, and even going back to the last game against the Florida Panthers at home on Feb. 18, Minnesota has gotten away from its identity as a tough-to-play-against, physical hockey club.
That's been the Wild's league-wide M.O. from the start of the season.

"It's not an X's and O'x thing, it's not a lack of being able to score ... I've talked to friends around the league and when we are playing, and after we've played a good game, and they'll be like, 'that was exhausting,'" Hartman said. "The way we play, we're suffocating, we take away time, they leave the rink with their tail between their legs, and that's how we want to play. That's our identity, and being relentless."
While the Wild got ahead early and cruised in Edmonton in a 7-3 win against the Oilers to start the trip, it was spotty at best in other cities during the trip.
Minnesota was solid for half the game in Ottawa, but a tough early start put the Wild in a two-goal hole it could never fully dig out of.
It was good for chunks of the game against Toronto, but led for a grand total of just 27 seconds of the game.
After scoring in the first 90 seconds of the game in Calgary, the Flames simply overwhelmed the Wild for most of the game after that.

"I think it's one of those things where we've gotten away from our game," said Wild defenseman Jordie Benn. "If you guys (the media) can see it, we can definitely see it in our dressing room.
"I definitely think we've done enough talking and come to play and play the way we know how."
In addition to the disappointment players and coaches still felt in the days after, there was certainly an eagerness to get back on the ice Tuesday when the Flames come to St. Paul for the second half of the home-and-home between the clubs.

"That's the team that out-gritted us, that's the team that out-hit us, that's the team that outplayed us, that's the team that embarrassed us, so there better be a learning experience," Evason said. "But it doesn't matter if it was the Calgary Flames or any other hockey club in the National Hockey League we were playing tomorrow, what we do as a team doesn't change, shouldn't change.
"But because we're going to play against a team that plays like that, I assume most of the time -- we've only seen them the one time this year -- they're going to do that again. So if we're not [ready to play], we'll be embarrassed again."
That opportunity isn't lost on the players.
"Sometimes you don't really get the opportunity to have redemption like that and we do," Hartman said. "So we need to get to work."

Dumba, Greenway remain out

The Wild will be without Matt Dumba and Jordan Greenway for at least the game on Tuesday and potentially its upcoming road trip to Philadelphia and Buffalo at the end of the week.
Dumba (lower body) has begun skating with skating coach Andy Ness, which is a good sign in terms of progress. The next step for him would be to re-join the team for practice, which he did not do Monday.
"Whenever someone steps on the ice, clearly that's a good thing," Evason said.
Dumba, who has four goals and 16 assists and is a plus-9 in 40 games this season, has been absent the past seven games with his injury and his presence as a physical and emotional leader has been desperately missed.
The Wild has gone 2-5 in those games, losing by three goals or more three times during that stretch and allowing at least three goals against in every contest.
Greenway (upper body) was hurt in Ottawa and missed the final two games of the trip.
"Nothing immediate for either one," Evason said.