Jarrod Peterson is the Tribune sports editor. He can be reached at jarrod.peterson@albertleatribune.com.

The Minnesota Wild are spinning out of control.

Well, we all thought the Wild were going to coast into the playoffs with one of the best records in the league.

Haha.

Little did we know, it wouldn’t be the “Minnesota Way” if the Wild didn’t stink up the joint over the last month and a half of the season.

What the heck happened to this team.

Devan Dubynk went from the best goalies in the league to one of the worst.

Over his last 13 games, Dubnyk has a record of 3-8-2 with a save percentage of .889. He has allowed 36 goals.

It took Dubnyk 22 games to allow 36 goals to start the season.

While the Minnesota has secured a playoff spot, it went from a comfortable first place position in the Western Conference and the Central Division and now the Wild sit in second place in the Central Division. Pacific Division teams such as Anaheim, San Jose and Edmonton are within three points of Minnesota. Chicago has leap-frogged Minnesota and there is no chance the Wild will catch the Blackhawks in points, as Chicago is up seven up.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Wild even have a playoff run left in them. Assuming Minnesota limps into the playoffs, can Bruce Boudreau’s squad make a run or get past the first round?

In the playoffs, timely goals and hot goaltending is how championships are won.

If Dubnyk can’t keep the pucks out, the Wild will be the first to get bounced out.

KAT attack

In just his second year in the NBA, Minnesota center Karl-Anthony Towns has asserted his dominance.

While the Timberwolves are out of the playoffs, Towns has given Minnesota fans a show and put the rest of the league on notice that he is the next superstar.

At 21, Towns is averaging 24.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, and his numbers have been even more impressive since the All-Star break.

In the last 16 games, Towns is averaging 27.9 points and 13.2 rebounds on 60 percent shooting from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc.

Now, a large part of his increased production is due to the increase in minutes. Since the All-Star break, he is averaging 38.5 minutes compared to 36.5 minutes prior. But it also has to do with the season-ending injury to guard Zach LaVine.

The most impressive stat is Towns’ field goal percentage. He is strong enough to back down his opponent toward the basket, but is skilled enough to step behind the three-point line and hit the three.

Before he starts getting votes for MVP, Towns and teammate Andrew Wiggins have to lead the Timberwolves to the playoffs and a good overall record. Enough of the losing. Both guys are too talented to not help this team to victories. Look for Minnesota to add some better role players in the offseason.

It better.

But Towns is the real deal.