Goal and assist from Rossi in loss to Minnesota

Minnesota trailed 3-0 at the start of the middle third and entered the final third trailing 3-1. Coach Dean Evason changed his lines after the second break and had Rossi cut in between top strikers Kyril Capresso and Matt Boldy.

The Vorarlberg center received more than 20 minutes of ice time for the first time and had four goals and two assists after ten games. Rossi explained: “In the last few matches we had a difficult start, and we have to change that. We played well at the end of the match.”

While things are going well for him personally, the season so far has been disappointing for Minnesota. The Wild have lost four straight games and six of their last seven and have fallen to sixth in the Central Division.

Defense in particular is a headache, with Minnesota conceding 43 goals, the second most goals conceded among the team’s 32 clubs. Only the winless San Jose Sharks have conceded more goals with 45 following their 10-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.