The Minnesota Mallards are heading west for a unique home weekend.
Minnesota will travel to Watford City, North Dakota, for a two-game home series against the Wisconsin Windigo at the Rough Rider Center, marking the second consecutive weekend the two Midwest Division opponents will go head-to-head.
The Mallards and Windigo will drop the puck Saturday, October 10 at 7:00 PM before wrapping up the series Sunday afternoon at 3:00 PM.
Familiar Opponent, New Setting
There will not be many surprises when the puck drops Saturday night.
Minnesota is coming directly off a road weekend against the Windigo in Brookfield, Wisconsin, giving both teams a fresh look at one another heading into the rematch.
The quick turnaround creates a different challenge than a typical weekend. With four meetings between the clubs over a short stretch, adjustments become increasingly important. Both coaching staffs have recent film to work with, players are familiar with their matchups, and small details can become the difference.
Last Saturday’s meeting saw Wisconsin come away with a 6-3 victory despite Minnesota generating opportunities throughout the night. Jack Fang found the back of the net for his third goal of the season as the Mallards battled to stay within striking distance.
Now Minnesota gets another opportunity against the same opponent.
A Chance to Respond
Back-to-back weekends against a division rival give the Mallards an immediate chance to respond.
Rather than waiting weeks or months for another matchup, Minnesota can take what it learned in Wisconsin and bring those adjustments directly into this weekend.
That means cleaning up the details, limiting extended offensive-zone time for the Windigo and taking advantage when opportunities appear at the other end of the ice.
The Mallards have already shown early this season that they are capable of responding after difficult games. Minnesota opened its regular season by sweeping Kenai River and later picked up a dramatic shootout victory over Anchorage before heading into the NAHL Showcase.
The focus now is on continuing to grow and finding consistency as the season moves deeper into October.
Bringing Mallards Hockey to Watford City
This weekend also gives the organization an opportunity to bring Mallards hockey to a different community.
The Rough Rider Center in Watford City will serve as home ice for Minnesota for both games, giving fans in western North Dakota the opportunity to see NAHL hockey up close.
While the setting may be different from a typical home weekend in Forest Lake, the goal remains exactly the same.
Protect home ice.
Minnesota will look to establish its game early Saturday night, build momentum throughout the weekend and come away from Watford City with valuable points in the Midwest Division race.
One More Round With the Windigo
Four games against the same opponent in two weekends creates the kind of familiarity that can quickly build intensity.
Every shift becomes more familiar.
Every matchup becomes more important.
And every adjustment from the previous weekend has a chance to show up immediately.
For the Mallards, this weekend is an opportunity to turn familiarity into an advantage and deliver a strong response against a Windigo team they now know well.
Saturday, October 10 — 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 11 — 3:00 PM
Rough Rider Center — Watford City, North Dakota
Two more games against the Windigo.
This time, they’re home games.
Fear The Flock. Fly Mallards Fly.
Fans unable to make the trip can follow Mallards games live on NAHL TV.
