Over 50 percent of Minnesota's 54 games this season have been decided by one goal, as have the first two games of its mammoth eight-game homestand. The Wild fell to the Blackhawks in overtime on Wednesday before coming out on the right side of a one-goal game against the Lightning on Friday, where it won in a shootout.
The Wild struggled in close contests last season, winning only about 38 percent of its one-goal games. This year, Minnesota is showing that it's up to the task.
"I think we're probably going to see a lot more games like [the Tampa Bay game] down the stretch," said Wild goaltender Devan Dubnyk. "I think that the depth that we have in here and the ability of just about anyone in our lineup to make a big play at any time, that kind of allows us to get ahead in those games and to win those games."
The Wild has won about 52 percent of its one-goal matches this season. Since December, Minnesota has improved to 11-1-3 in contests decided by a goal for an overall record in one-goal games of 15-8-4. Perhaps most importantly, only four of the Wild's 12 regulation losses have been by two or more goals.
In other words, Minnesota has lost just seven percent of its games by more than a goal.
With the rarity of blowout losses and one-goal wins at a premium, comfort and confidence in close contests are paramount, said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau.
"The importance is you don't panic in those games," Boudreau said. "So the more games you get to play like that in the regular season, the more games you feel in a comfort zone when those games are taking place [in the playoffs]."