Wild throttle lowly Red Wings en route to easy 7-1 win - St. Paul Pioneer Press

• Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (24) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock (32) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock (32) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild defenseman Greg Pateryn (29) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock (32) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Gerald Mayhew (26) controls the puck as Detroit Red Wings' Dennis Cholowski (21) and Madison Bowey (74) defend in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Gerald Mayhew (26) skates against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Ryan Donato (6) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Ryan Donato (6) celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Ryan Donato (6) scores on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Ryan Donato (6) shoots on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Gerald Mayhew (26) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) plays against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal (12) skates against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Alex Biega (3) battle for position in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Gerald Mayhew (26) protects the puck from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Madison Bowey (74) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild center Ryan Donato (6) scores on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) scores on Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

• Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard (35) stops a Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal (12) shot as Filip Hronek (17) defends in the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT — Wild interim coach Dean Evason tried to keep the intensity high in the hours leading up to Thursday’s game against the lowly Detroit Red Wings.

As a former NHL player, Evason knows firsthand how tough it can be to get up for a game against a team that has absolutely nothing to play for.

Not that he was too concerned about the Wild being ready to play as they continue to fight for their lives in the gridlocked Western Conference.

“We have something to play for,” Evason said. “That’s what we’re concentrating on each and every night. It’s how we play. It’s not necessarily who we play.”

Frankly, even if the Wild weren’t ready to play, they probably would’ve been fine. They proved that much with a dominant 7-1 win over the Red Wings in a game that was over before it really even started.

Matt Dumba led the way with a pair of goals. Ryan Hartman, Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, Kevin Fiala, and Eric Staal added a goal apiece, and Alex Stalock recorded 24 saves en route to his easiest win of the season.

That easy win was especially helpful for the Wild because it allowed them to evenly distribute playing time heading into Friday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“I haven’t looked at all the numbers, but I’m pretty sure they’re all probably pretty even,” Evason said. “There’s no question when we have a back-to-back it’s nice to conserve some energy.”

All of a sudden, the Wild are back in the thick of the playoff race, an impressive feat considering many doubters left for dead a couple of weeks ago.

If the Wild are actually going to make the playoffs, though, they need to string together more games like the one they played against the Red Wings.

Not only did they dominate for 60 minutes of play, they got contributions from up and down the lineup, including a point from 13 different players.

“Everybody showed up,” Fiala said. “That’s a huge part of our team right now that all the lines are getting goals.”

In fact, the production has been so evenly distributed as of late that Evason has felt comfortable playing any line in any situation of the game.

“We are relying on everybody to play the right way and play the game defensively and hopefully everyone can chip in offensively,” Evason said. “I think the guys are buying into that.”

That looked like the case on this night, starting with Hartman and Donato scoring 27 seconds apart midway the first period, and continuing with Dumba unleashing a clap bomb from the high slot shortly after that.

“You look at the standings and we all see how much these points mean to us right now,” Dumba said. “We did a good job coming out hard early and just applying the pressure.”

That offensive explosion continued in the second period as Dumba scored again before Greenway and Fiala each finished off highlight-reel plays.

That set the stage for the third period, and Staal finalized the score with a tap-in goal after a sweet pass from Fiala.

“No one cares who’s scoring or anything about that right now,” Dumba said. “We are focused on the two points, and guys are doing a great job of just rallying around each other and just getting fired up for these games because they are so important right now and going on a little streak would be awesome.”

After a big night against the Red Wings, the Wild now turn their attention to the Blue Jackets.

“It’s a 7-1 win so we can’t take anything for granted,” Fiala said. “We have to be on top of it (against the Blue Jackets) because they’re a better team for sure.”

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Wild throttle lowly Red Wings en route to easy 7-1 win - St. Paul Pioneer Press
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