We're halfway through the 2013 NHL regular season, and the Wild find themselves in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. With half the season left, can the Wild hang onto a Playoff berth? Or, will they suffer another late-season swoon that causes them to miss the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season?
One way or another the answer to those questions figures to lie in the play of the club's defensemen and goaltenders down the stretch. With the Wild still struggling to produce consistent offense, their defense has been the major catalyst for their success throughout much of the season. And their defense will be the reason they either make or miss the playoffs, because this club is not going to turn into a goal scoring juggernaut overnight.
So, what better time than the season's mid-way point to hand out grades to the Minnesota Wild's defensemen and goaltenders.
