Suter on sputtering Wild: 'We're a very fragile team'
Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter was in no mood to celebrate his 800th career game on Thursday, especially after watching his team's two-goal lead evaporate in all of 80 seconds.
The 31-year-old Suter wasn't pleased with Minnesota's compete level in a 4-2 setback to the New York Rangers, marking the team's third straight loss and ninth in 10 outings (1-8-1). In addition, the Wild have squandered a lead in five of their last six outings.
"We're a very fragile team. They get one (goal) and we go into a shell. That's a team that has no confidence. So we have to figure it out and figure it out fast or it's not gonna work."
Suter set up fellow defenseman Matt Dumba's goal for his team-leading 26th assist to give Minnesota a 2-0 advantage just 7:57 into Thursday's contest. Suter's 32 points are just three shy of captain Mikko Koivu for the club lead. New York responded early in the second period and didn't look back.
Congrats to @rsuter20 who is skating in his 800th #NHL game tonight - becoming 6th active D-man to reach 800 since entering NHL in 05-06.
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) February 5, 2016
While Suter's production is nice, a lack of offense from the rest of his mates has been of great concern.
Minnesota (23-19-9), which has scored just 16 goals in its last 10 games, resides on the outside of the postseason picture - one point behind the Nashville Predators (24-20-8).
