Jesse Pierce

It's Thursday and Friday on the road at Colorado and Utah.

I don't think we're going to see them at practice at all this week, including that travel day Wednesday and Thursday.

I would think they'll, they'll play in both those games on the road.

But again, I don't know if it's a guarantee with some of the logistics of getting them out East and then getting them back and getting them rest.

You know, John Heinz hinted that they had a plan in place before this tournament and they

with all different paths to getting back and getting these guys the rest they need.

And I think for Minnesota, Jesse, not only this week with three games and four nights, but in the final six weeks of the season –

Unless I'm reading those standings wrong, unless I'm completely off my analysis here, it sure looks like about a 99% chance that Minnesota and Dallas are going to play in the first round.

I think Colorado is going to win the division.

I think right now it looks a little bit deceiving because Minnesota is within five points, but Colorado has, I think, got three games in hand.

I think at some point, if you're Bill Guerin, if you're John Hines and that coaching staff,

You've got to be smart because the one thing I know, if you're going to try to run the gauntlet and beat two of the best three teams in the league in consecutive series, likely Dallas and then Colorado, and then, oh, by the way, likely a team like Vegas in that conference final,

you're going to have to be healthy and you're going to have to be rested and ready to go.

And if you're locked in to a match with Dallas, I don't know if I go all in on just trying to get home ice in that series, because I really don't believe it's that big a deal.

And I would rather see this team rested and healthy.

And so I wonder how they're going to play this out.

And I know that,

You know, you don't see a lot of load management in the National Hockey League.

That's why we love that compared to the NBA.

But I'd be very surprised if some of these teams, but specifically this team here in Minnesota, didn't maybe use some caution here down the stretch.