Wild welcome basement-dwelling Canadiens at home

Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty ImagesThe Minnesota Wild hadn't seen the Chicago Blackhawks since the 2019-20 season. Tonight they take on Montreal Canadiens, yet another squad they haven't seen since Mikko Koivu was the captain on this team. It's only a couple of seasons, but it feels like a lifetime ago for both squads.

We've seen the emergence of a new team and a new regime here in Minnesota, while the Canadiens have seen a Cinderella trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, only to turn back into a pumpkin this season.

Scratch that. What's worse than a pumpkin? A decorative gourd? One of those little mini-pumpkins that exist around Halloween?

Whatever the lowest denomination of squash is, that's the…