Busy schedule stretch has Wild on the job every other night

Two years ago, as he was helping lead the Minnesota Gophers to the national title game, Brock Faber lived in a more simple world, schedule-wise.

College hockey teams generally play two games per week, facing the same opponent twice, generally on Friday and Saturday nights.This season, Faber played for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off, which gave much of the NHL a two-week break in February, but also meant a condensed schedule which is being felt in March.

Thursdays game with the New York Rangers was the third in a stretch of seven games in 12 days.

After getting two days off next week, the Wild will play five games in eight days.For Faber and others, its a far cry from the comparatively light schedules they had in the NCAA days.Its a lot different.

You dont have time to dwell on anything, especially with the 4 Nations, Faber said prior to facing the Rangers, admitting a focus on keeping your mind sharp as well as your body.

Mentally it was more than it was physically in a tournament like that, then now to making a playoff push and hopefully making the playoffs and then hopefully going on a run from there, you dont have time to dwell on anything.

You play a game, sleep ok, sleep the next day and play again the day after that.

Thats how it is and I love that.In his pregame comments, Wild coach John Hynes talked a little about the challenge that a team like the Rangers presents, and then mentioned St.

Louis which comes to Minnesota on Saturday which was a quiet admission that the busy schedule means you are looking ahead out of necessity.Its great.

At this time of year, you want to play.

I think the guys want to play.

The situation were in, its an exciting time of year, its highly competitive, Hynes said.

In March, with games every other day, he is not afraid to cancel off-day practices and give the Wild opportunities to relax and enjoy the early Minnesota spring.

We know its not a ton of practice time.

Yesterday we had a big win and then guys got away from the rink.

It was a beautiful day out, guys come back in energized and ready to play again.

Thats what you want to do at this time of year.Faber admitted that he came up on the short end of a friendly wager he made with teammate Vinnie Hinostroza, after the latters Notre Dame team upset the Gophers in a first round Big Ten tournament series last weekend in Minneapolis.

That means that Fabers old team will have more than two weeks off headed into the NCAA tournament.

Most coaches tell you that excessive free time with no games to play is the last thing they want with the playoffs approaching.You dont want to have a lot of lulls in the schedule, Hynes said.

I think its nice that we have this homestand for us.

Even on the days (off), you can get away from it because games are going to be very intense and emotional either way, so were looking forward to it.Jonas Brodin skating againWild defenseman Jonas Brodin was back on the ice during the teams Thursday morning skate, but his return to Minnesotas game night lineup is still days or even weeks away, Hynes said.Related ArticlesMinnesota Wild | Stifling Wild defense producing wins while offense is quietMinnesota Wild | Shootout practice helps Wild get crucial extra point from ColoradoMinnesota Wild | Wild players admit a gut feeling when playoff time is approachingMinnesota Wild | For Wilds still-struggling penalty kill, close is not nearly enoughMinnesota Wild | One last head-to-head for old teammates Crosby and FleuryNo update on the timeline, said Hynes, who has unfortunately become an expert on injury recovery timelines this season.

He obviously feeling better, to be able to get on the ice, and had a good skate today, so thats all positive.

Now it goes down to how does he respond, how does he react, but the initial step is good.Thursday was the sixth consecutive game that Brodin has missed while dealing with a lower body injury.

Forwards Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek, also dealing with lower body injuries, have not yet resumed skating..

This article has been shared from the original article on twincities, here is the link to the original article.