The Wild (5-8-2) begin a three-game losing streak, including an 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday before flying here Monday night.
They are 16th in the NHL with an average of 3.27 goals per game and allow 4.20 goals per game, which places them second in the League behind the San Jose Sharks (4.24).
“We’re doing some things right now that are hurting us at crucial times in the game where, maybe instead of making this play, you just play a little smarter with puck management and move on and prepare yourself or your teammates for next shift,” Foligno said. “We just seem to shoot ourselves in the foot at crucial times in the game and right now we’re trying to get that confidence back.”
The Wild are hoping their Swedish players will give them a boost, including the goaltender Filip Gustavssonwhich will begin on Saturday.
“It’s what you dreamed of growing up, you always wanted to play in the NHL,” said Gustavsson, a native of Skelleftea, just under 500 miles north of Stockholm. “And then to do it here in Sweden in front of all my family and my grandparents, it made me want to have the opportunity to fly to North America. It’s going to be awesome.”
Gustavsson will face a Senators team that won 5-4 in overtime against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. Ottawa scored the first four goals of the game and is averaging 3.93 goals per game, which ranks second in the NHL behind the Vancouver Canucks (4.24).
“It’s just an energetic, explosive hockey club, isn’t it?” » said Evason. “Obviously (a team) is extremely dangerous. We have to play the way we can play in order to keep the puck out of our net and slow them down.
“We’re very aware of what they can do offensively. We have to be very careful and play the way we can play to be successful tomorrow.”
It was a second straight victory for the Senators (7-7-0), who had lost three of their previous four games (1-3-0).
“They’re going to forecheck and they’re going to chase you,” Senators coach DJ Smith said of the Wild. “And we have to be ultra-disciplined. And if they take penalties, then we have to score on the power play, it’s as simple as that.”
It is also simple that only one team can come out of the game with a well-deserved victory.
“Our season needs to turn around quickly here,” Foligno said. “We’re looking forward to getting back there, playing another game, and hopefully Sweden will bring us some luck and we can leave here with two points. We’re excited to get started.”
