There is no way to accurately describe how different the Minnesota Wild is than it was when it dropped a 2-1 overtime game to the New Jersey Devils in their first matchup at Prudential Center on Oct. 22.
Joel Eriksson Ek scored his first NHL goal in that game for the Wild, but was long ago shuttled back to Sweden for additional seasoning.
But more than the normal roster shuffling that occurs during a typical NHL season, the Wild has a completely different mindset now that it has gained a firm grasp of what coach Bruce Boudreau wants.
Minnesota was still trying to find its way. The following night, the Wild would lost 6-3 to the New York Islanders, the last time until New Year's Eve it would lose a game by more than one goal.
Since that game, the Wild has a 25-8-4 record and has climbed to the top of the Western Conference standings
"So much has changed," said Wild defenseman Matt Dumba. "We've grown so much as a team and hopefully we can show that tonight by playing a really solid game at home."
Minnesota has posted a 5-0-1 record in six games since its 12-game winning streak was snapped by the Blue Jackets in the final game of 2016. A daunting schedule followed, including a trip to the West Coast, one home game against Atlantic Division-leading Montreal followed by back-to-back games against division rivals Dallas and Chicago.
Knowing the magnitude of those contests, it made it for easy motivation to get up for each game.
Now with home dates against New Jersey and Arizona -- two teams currently not in the postseason picture -- following, and without the animosity of the previous clubs, the challenge will be different but equally as testing.
"Good teams do that; you find a way to make sure you keep the level high and the game high and the intensity there," said Wild forward Eric Staal. "We have a good stretch of games here until the All-Star break, so we need keep our foot on the gas until then. Then we get a couple days to regroup and refresh."
Boudreau said he knows the Wild can't afford to take any games off, no matter who the opponent is.
"These guys are playing well. If we have a letdown, we're in trouble," Boudreau said. "In this League, if you don't play at the top of your game all the time, the team you're playing is going to beat you."
