from Craig Custance of ESPN,

The Minnesota Wild entered the All-Star break with 46 points, seven points behind the Calgary Flames, the team the Wild have the best shot at catching in their attempt to crawl back into a playoff spot.

Since the break, the Wild went out and swept their way through a Western Canada road trip, outscoring the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks by a 7-3 margin, winning all in regulation. It was the perfect start to their post-break schedule, but now that it's all said and done they still remain five points behind the Flames. All that for a two point gain.

It's not going to be easy for the Wild, not with the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings in front of them, but they're doing what they need to do. They're getting goaltending, they're getting production from Thomas Vanek. Mikael Granlund's return has been a spark. Now comes a stretch that sees five of their next six games at home, one that needs to go just as well as the trip west just did.

read on, including Burnside on the West and LeBrun on Antoine Vermette...