Through Quinn Hughes’ first two games with the Wild, they’ve dominated the Bruins 6-2 and the Capitals 5-0. I’m tempted to put a disclaimer here that I don’t expect them to keep doing that, but sheesh, anyone watching these games has been treated to some of the most fun, fast-paced, skilled, and motivated hockey we’ve seen this season from anyone other than the Avalanche.
Even if we can’t expect the Wild to keep crushing every opponent by a five-goal margin, we can expect the puck-moving jolt that Hughes brought to the team to persist. Hughes’ transition game and ability to see the ice bring exactly what the Wild were missing to enter that upper echelon as they played catch-up after a rough start.
Minnesota had been heating up for a month and a half before the deal, and now the team’s efforts have been rewarded with a top-two NHL defenseman.
Don’t get me wrong: The Stars have been resilient, even dealing with a slew of injuries, but the combination of the Wild’s momentum and the Hughes factor has me thinking the Wild will soon pass Dallas in the standings and end the season No. 2 in the division.