The Wild will have a challenge ahead of it throughout the next few days as it tries to stick to that game plan, though.
In four games spanning the 2017-18 regular season, the teams amassed a collective 79 penalty minutes and made 132 hits. Minnesota bore the brunt of both, picking up 46 PIM to Winnipeg's 33 and receiving 75 hits to their own 57.
Overly physical play isn't really part of Minnesota's game, and it would like to keep things that way in the postseason.
"I think we've never been a real team that hits a tremendous deal, we want to be a team that really competes," said Wild coach Bruce Boudreau. "If they want to be really physical against us, you know, we've got some big boys now so that's great, but sometimes when you're too over-exuberant that you take yourself out of position when you want to be physical. So we want to play the right way all the time and if we do that we'll be happy."
That's a sentiment echoed around the room, although players are prepared for things to get rough no matter what. Ten of Winnipeg's skaters (and both its goalies) are 6-foot-3 or taller; five of those players -- Patrik Laine, Adam Lowry, Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers -- are 6-foot-5 or taller.
"They're a big team," said Wild defenseman Nick Seeler. "We're gonna have to be physical in the corners and in front of the net to keep them away from Devan Dubnyk]."
But Minnesota has some big players of its own, including rookies Carson Soucy and Jordan Greenway, and even Seeler himself, who showed early in his NHL career that he wasn't afraid to use his body and stand up for teammates.
"These guys have made it seamless for all of us and it's been nice to see them contributing in all the right ways," said Wild defenseman Nate Prosser of the young guns.
Making smart and calculated moves, but willing to use their size to jump-start the team or physically block out opponents. Just playing their game.
"[We have to have] good sticks, good battles and a good compete level," Prosser said. "We're going to play a good team in Winnipeg, they present a lot of challenges and we've just gotta make sure we continue to build on what we've been building this second half.
"It's a long series but I think we're all excited for it. I just want to continue what I've been doing and be consistent and you know, everyone at this time of year amps up their game a little bit."
One such player isn't a first-year NHLer, but rather one who's never had a chance to play past early April. Marcus Foligno, who's also known for his physical play, is one of the many in a Minnesota sweater embracing his first taste of postseason action.
"Some guys I've talked to already have told me to settle my nerves early, they know I'm gonna be physical and running around a bit," Foligno said. "The excitement of being here, I mean two days ago, just when the season's over, to know you're in the playoffs and there's 16 teams now in the hunt for the Stanley Cup and you're one of them. It's an honor."
Between adrenaline and nerves, the batch of fresh faces in the lineup should have no problem matching the Jets -- especially if they play sound defensive hockey, Foligno said.
But that's all in the plan, of course. They've just got to play their game.
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