Wild will fighting to end season on upswing

FRIDAY'S STORY LINE: "It wasn't the prettiest game," Wild defenseman Tom Gilbert said. It wasn't pretty, but the Wild won against the Florida Panthers on Thursday night. Trailing, 2-1, with 30 seconds left in the game, Erik Christensen tied the score. Then just 15 seconds into overtime, captain Mikko Koivu scored the game-winner to complete the comeback.

The Wild are out of the playoffs, but there is a lot of pride in the team's locker room. Minnesota will continue to fight until the final horn next Saturday against Phoenix.

"That is the way this team plays. There is never any quitting. That is the way they have been all year. Since I have been here, you never see a shift where guys take it off," said Gilbert, who was acquired at the trade deadline. "Down to the last minute of the game, guys are still pushing trying to score goals."

As the season winds down and the players look toward the offseason, it is important they head into the summer on a positive note. The remaining five games are important.

"We are not fighting for a playoff spot, but these games still mean a lot," Gilbert said. "Just to get a good feeling at the end of the year that builds through the summer going into next season"

HE SAID IT: "We are not going to be taking a dive. We are still trying as a group and as an organization,  trying to reach a certain standard.  That wouldn't be fitting the profile of the standard we want to get to. There is a lot more pride in the room. It is just not what professionals do." — Center Kyle Brodziak on continuing to play hard and not taking a dive in standings to get a better draft pick