ST PAUL, MN – OCTOBER 15: Head coach Bruce Boudreau of the Minnesota Wild looks on during the game against Winnipeg Jets on October 15, 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Minnesota is firmly in a playoff position in the West, but a late-season slump has coach Bruce Boudreau embarrassed.

On Saturday, the Wild gave up four straight second-period goals in a 4-2 loss to the struggling Vancouver Canucks for their seventh loss in eight games – three of which against teams currently out of the playoff race.

Ultimately, Minnesota’s fallen out of first place in the West. Unsurprisingly, Boudreau isn’t amused. Following the loss against the Canucks, Boudreau — in his first season with the Wild — said the loss was embarrassing:

“It was embarrassing, I’m embarrassed,” Boudreau told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune. “To me, if I were the fans, I’d be booing even more because they paid good money for this.”

Boudreau isn’t wrong. Minnesota’s floundered as 2016-17 comes to a close. Thankfully, the Wild played so well for most of the season that they’re still in position to host a first-round playoff series. Still, it must be concerning for Boudreau to see his team play such stagnant hockey as the playoffs near.

As Russo notes, almost all of the Wild’s top forwards have struggled. Charlie Coyle has scored just four times in his last 36 games. Meanwhile, Nino Niederreiter has scored only once in his last 19. Ryan Suter has managed just one goal in his last 27 games and Zach Parise potted two goals in his last 11. Key players clearly just need to step up for Minnesota to start rolling.

Sending a message with such strong words might get Minnesota motivated. Because, if the struggles continue for the rest of the season, Boudreau is going to be one upset man.

[theScore]

 

About Liam McGuire

Social +Staff writer for The Comeback & Awful Announcing. Liammcguirejournalism@gmail.com