from Joe Smith of The Athletic,

The Wild insisted this year would be different.

They were mentally and physically tougher. Their latest playoff scar — blowing a 2-1 series lead to the Blues last spring — had hardened them. Taught them important lessons. They were built for playoff hockey.

This was their chance to prove it.

And they failed miserably.

Stunningly.

It was unacceptable.

And their fans let them hear it, with a smattering of boos from the emptying arena in the final minute of a 4-1, season-ending loss to the Stars in Game 6.

“I’m sick to my stomach about it,” Ryan Hartman said. “This city deserves better than what we gave them. We failed them, and it feels like s—.”

“It just sucks in general,” captain Jared Spurgeon said. “Everything.”

“A brutal feeling,” Marcus Foligno said. “We grind all the way to get to the playoffs, and we can’t get out of the first round again. Broken record.”

There’s a ton to unpack for why this franchise hasn’t won a playoff round since 2015, and plenty of difficult decisions are looming this summer. GM Bill Guerin isn’t expected to blow up the roster or fire coach Dean Evason, and he doesn’t have much cap space to make necessary upgrades.

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