Wild move up to third in updated NHL power rankings

According to ESPN, 75% of NHL teams that were in playoff position by Thanksgiving held on to a postseason spot by the time the regular season came to a close. 

That's good news for the Wild, who have just three games remaining before the holiday and sit second in the Central Division, as well as second in the entire Western Conference, with a 13-3-3 record (29 points) through 19 games this season. 

The Wild are also getting respect nationally. Minnesota moved up one spot, from No. 4 to No. 3, in the latest edition of ESPN's NHL power rankings released on Friday. 

The Wild are only behind the Carolina Hurricanes (No. 2) and rival Winnipeg Jets (No. 1), who they'll face at Xcel Energy Center on Monday, just days before Thanksgiving.

ESPN's Arda Ocal did a holiday-themed rendition of the rankings this week, identifying one thing each team should be thankful for through this point in the season. Ocal went a comedic route for the Wild, saying they should appreciate the "protective cup."

"Sure, I could have chosen the Wild's amazing start, Filip Gustavsson cruising (including a goalie goal), but Marcus Foligno gave us some absolutely wild information about Mats Zuccarello in an appearance on a Minnesota radio station," Ocal wrote. 

Zuccarello got struck in the groin on a wrist shot by Brock Faber during a game against the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 14, crumbling to the ice. He's been out since, and Foligno provided an update on 93X, which Ocal quoted in depth, explaining that Zuccarello had ruptured a testicle and that there was a "massive dent" in his cup. 

Thankfully, it appears Zuccarello will be OK, and the Wild have been doing OK in his absence, too, including Thursday night's 5-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers.