from Michael Russo of Russo's Rants,

It’s kind of funny that after Game 81, the media got admonished for allegedly being too negative and saying the Wild was backing into the playoffs and tonight after Game 82 coach John Torchetti voiced the frustration that we all expected after Game 81.

If the Wild’s trying to lower expectations this postseason, it has done a magnificent job these last few weeks.

The Wild and its fans better hope this team can magically rediscover its mojo in the playoffs against Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza and the powerhouse Dallas Stars. If it doesn’t, the Wild will, to steal Devan Dubnyk’s word after Game 80’s loss in Winnipeg, get absolutely “throttled” in the first round.

The series starts Thursday. The full schedule will be released Sunday.

Tonight, in a season-ending 2-1 loss to the Flames, the Wild entered the postseason losers of five consecutive games and outscored 16-6 in those games. Torchetti continued Mike Yeo’s Game 82 trend of the last couple years by ripping into his team afterward.

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