After dropping their first game in the John Torchetti era, the Wild got some more bad news when they learned that their alternate captain and best player Zach Parise would be out for tonight's game. For a Wild team that has struggled even when healthy, the injuries that they've suffered recently (Parise, Jonas Brodin, Jason Zucker) are extremely unwelcome, and it would be a challenge to respond positively to this newest adversity. Fortunately, they were playing the Philadelphia Flyers, who were also short-handed losing star player Claude Giroux. So, at least it was a fair fight.
The Wild started the first half of the opening period ok, getting most of their opportunities from the Nino Niederreiter - Erik Haula - Jason Pominville line which has just continued to buzz since joining forces in Torchetti's first game.