KK has been more of a liability than an asset since the second half of game 1. He’s been coughing up the puck in or near the neutral zone instead of getting the puck deep resulting in numerous scoring chances against and at least one goal last night. It’s one thing to be nonexistent but it’s hurting your team when you are failing to do the little things.
Stars need to be stars in the playoffs otherwise you don’t have a shot.
He looks unusually slow too.
I don’t think it’s that ridiculous of a take. Spurgeon is one of two D-men Captains with Roman Josi. I don’t think anyone is putting Spurgeon as one of the top D men in the league (let alone this team). He does get pushed around. And thus far has not shown an ability to elevate his game in the playoffs, like you’d want/expect your captain to.
I just think it is funny that after one playoff loss on the road of the finger pointing that happens and the reasons for the loss.
I get it not everyone follows closely and just tunes into the playoffs and has an opinion based off of that one game.
Maybe KK just misses seeing zuccy’s daughter and will come out on fire at home. 
I’m gonna have to take a little break from this thread. See ya’ll for game 3
I don’t think it’s that ridiculous of a take. Spurgeon is one of two D-men Captains with Roman Josi. I don’t think anyone is putting Spurgeon as one of the top D men in the league. He does get pushed around. And thus far has not shown an ability to elevate his game in the playoffs, like you’d want/expect your captain to.
By that metric our captain is now Marcus Johansson.
I also hated the decision to start Fleury. We gave up too many prime chances last night, but Gus made some big plays in game 1 on similar chances and that was the difference maker.
Dude put up like 50 saves in game one including some stand on your head type stuff in OT and then you sit him? Coaching staff should absolutely be torched for this.
I feel bad for KK though. He didn’t have a great game, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s still far from being 100%, but it’s pretty easy to ‘suffocate’ KK when you have two other dudes on your ‘top’ line who are not playing well. Or when your ‘number 1’ center is hurt on top of it. It’s brutal.
It reminds me of the NBA when teams would just like leave Ben Simmons wide open cause they knew he had no confidence and couldn’t make a shot. A lot easier to defend 4 players with 5, than 5 players with 5. Dallas doesn’t view anyone else on that line as a threat to score because….they haven’t been a threat to score.
I’m gonna have to take a little break from this thread. See ya’ll for game 3
Don’t get too down, it is amazing Billy is even able to field this kind of team with the cap restrictions he has. it is a bonus we are making the playoffs right now and have games to analyze i just want them to next the step.
I’ll just throw this little piece out for all the Spurg haters.
Minnesota’s duo of Jared Spurgeon and Jake Middleton has been the stingiest first pair in the NHL, surrendering just 1.52 goals against per hour. That’s been a big help for the Wild because Matt Dumba’s inconsistent campaign has deflated the second pair’s results compared to last season. Over the last three seasons, Spurgeon’s goals-against rate ranks third best among all NHL defensemen who’ve logged at least 2000 five-on-five minutes.
Lowest goals-against rate since 2020-21
RANK PLAYER 5V5 GOALS AGAINST PER 60
1
Matt Grzelcyk
1.67
2
Alexandre Carrier
1.76
3
Jared Spurgeon
1.81
4
Ryan Lindgren
1.88
5
Chris Tanev
1.91
6
Ryan McDonagh
1.94
7
Miro Heiskanen
1.94
8
Adam Pelech
1.97
9
Brady Skjei
1.97
10
Charlie McAvoy
1.98
Remember a few pages back when I questioned why the Wild brought Ek to Dallas when he is still rehabbing and it would be better for him to stay home and do it because you’re not sure how the Home Team will let the visiting team use their facilities and equipment? Well look at what Vegas does:
This is UNTRUE. The bikes are intact. NHL teams are Required to provide a level of equipment that each team can expect at every arena. Not sure how anyone could think a team would break the rule, it would just happen bac to them when visiting the opponent.
I’ll just throw this little piece out for all the Spurg haters.
Minnesota’s duo of Jared Spurgeon and Jake Middleton has been the stingiest first pair in the NHL, surrendering just 1.52 goals against per hour. That’s been a big help for the Wild because Matt Dumba’s inconsistent campaign has deflated the second pair’s results compared to last season. Over the last three seasons, Spurgeon’s goals-against rate ranks third best among all NHL defensemen who’ve logged at least 2000 five-on-five minutes.
Lowest goals-against rate since 2020-21
RANK PLAYER 5V5 GOALS AGAINST PER 60
1
Matt Grzelcyk
1.67
2
Alexandre Carrier
1.76
3
Jared Spurgeon
1.81
4
Ryan Lindgren
1.88
5
Chris Tanev
1.91
6
Ryan McDonagh
1.94
7
Miro Heiskanen
1.94
8
Adam Pelech
1.97
9
Brady Skjei
1.97
10
Charlie McAvoy
1.98
These are Regular season stats, right? Can you assemble similar data that reflects his playoff performance? My gut tells me the career playoff numbers for 46 tell a bit different story than regular season. When big boys turn it up and the rule book gets thrown out.
My gut tells me the career playoff numbers for 46 tell a bit different story than regular season. When big boys turn it up and the rule book gets thrown out.
I would tend to agree with this because mostly of his size and getting beat to a pulp in the playoffs, but that is just a guess.
A new Wild on 7th is out and near the end John King talks about his superstitions and how he didnt do the same routine for last night’s game that he did for game 1. Including wearing the same clothes, only drinking a beer when they score and so on. That is hilarious because I wear the same clothes while they are winning and threw them in the laundry this morning.
Now we know who to blame
My word!
Spurgeon is a top defender. Get all the hate after what seems a horrible loss. No true nhl center on the ice for us against the top face off team in the league and this is what you’ll get. Chasing pucks all game long. Been saying it all season, they need a part that is in low supply and high demand. BG knows it and we can’t afford one right now. It pisses me off we don’t have one, but know the cost isn’t worth the risk in the current market.
Take out the most important player on this team, Ek, and everything is different. Take out our rat, Hartman, and the team tone totally changes.
The coaches absolutely knew Dallas was going to be bringing it last night. Have zero problem starting Flower. It was way more calculated than pulling the hot goalie. Love it or hate it, this team is not a cup team missing two very important pieces at a position we are already extremely thin at.
Boldy has been and is an astronomically frustrating player for me to watch personally. Ton of talent. But young and dumb as a stump at times. He seems to go utterly brain dead if given room to think. Looking at his numbers for the playoffs will be interesting. Yes, he’s young and talented, but damnation he is frustrating.
KK and Zuc should teach classes on how to pass to nobody. They are doing very well right now passing to voids on the ice. Almost as frustrating as Boldy missing the net.
If you watch the games start to finish Jojo, Nyquist, Sundquist and Freddy, they are actually doing something offensively in the first 2 games. KK, Boldy and Zuc are darn near no shows. If you could add up all the shots from Boldy and the shot locations, he’s been awful in spot selection. If you tally up the turn overs and passes to absolutely nobody, KK, Boldy and Zuc have been without a doubt beyond horrendous.
Middleton has been very solid.
Merrell hasn’t been good but he’s not as bad as I thought he’d be.
Spurgeon just doesn’t play big at all. Still a good defender but obviously struggles with bigger body players in the post season.
Brodin can’t do everything.
Faber has been solid and can’t expect more out of him.
Take Reaves off the bench and Benn will absolutely dominate more than normal. Reaves has actually played way better hockey than I ever thought he would. Yes, he’s not as good as KK, Zuc or Boldy in this series, oh wait, check that, his play hasn’t been as bad as those 3 so far from an expectation standpoint.
Foligno hasn’t been much of a factor other than doing what he does. But he’s not blindly passing to nobody.
Not a Steel fan, but he’s been solid so far this series.
Dewar and Duhaime have been skating hard.
Dallas has way more scoring talent that’s way more consistent. Especially with pretty much a no show from our first line, that seems disjointed at best currently.
Ek is the heart of this team. He’s a net front presence, a pk beast, he’s a pest and doesn’t care what he’s called to do. He just does it. With him out, it was a long shot to steal one from Dallas at home. Without him and Hartman, no chance you’re stealing the 2nd unless KK, Zuc or Boldy shows up and dominates. Until they show that in this series, don’t trust they’ll just do it.
The fact there has been zero dominance by KK or Boldy, your top 2 scorer’s, one could get just as pissy towards them as Spurgeon. Boldy reminds me of Gumby. KK is not 100%. But neither is bringing much and in a lot of ways more of a liability instead of an asset. Hopefully that changes. It can and they are extremely talented players. But blame everyone else from Flower to Dean to Reaves to Spurgeon.
Little doubt in my mind if Hartman and Ek are playing next game there’s a chance we can take 1 of 2 at home if KK, Zuc or Boldy can get going. If they can’t or if Hartman and Ek are still out, the wild may have seen their only win of the series.
Going forward a 1st line center is top priority period. Put a big name center on this roster and Dallas would be down 2/0. No center, no win in the playoffs. Dallas will probably prove that by winning the series and proving how important draws are. Especially post season.
BG has done well with getting the players he did before the deadline.
Dean does Dean things and knows this team just goes through some real head scratcher moments.
Still frustratingly fun to watch and hoping we can pull off a miracle and beat a better team. But odds are not in the wilds favor to get past the first round yet again unless some players can step up and score.
I’m not hating on Spurg and glad he’s the captain. I was pointing out what I see with my own eyes. He’s less noticeable in the playoffs than he is during the regular season. He’s not unique that way.
Looks like Tampa is following the Wild’s playbook
Several blowouts so far in the playoffs. No reason to panic.
Get Ek back and gimme Gus in nets and I like our chances.
I think there’s something being lost in translation here on Spurgeon. I don’t think anyone hates him. Just had a bad game, and isn’t the type of player, due to his position, style and size, that can elevate his game *noticeably* in the playoffs. Still a very fine player that may not really be the true captain of the team. Not ridiculous to critique his game or him as Captain, that comes with the letter. I’m sure he will be fine, and no need to draw battle lines here.
Looks like Tampa is following the Wild’s playbook
Weird depleted lineup and not great goal tending tonight and they get blown out. Sound familiar.
The Kraken look pretty tough. I don’t get to see them play much given their start times but they are a solid bunch.
The Butt Kracken apparently didn’t get the memo that this series was supposed to be a light warmup for the Avs.
2-0 Kracken with 5 left in the 1st.
Yeah the Kraken seem to have the Avs number. Impressive.
The beauty of the NHL playoffs, always full of surprises…
They seem to have woken the beast. Colorado is flying.
You think Wild fans were bad, my cousin in Denver went to both games one and two and was freaking out last night when they were down 2-0. I don’t see the Kraken being able to stay with them for the whole series but it’d be nice if they wear them down a bit. He also said Makar is clearly injured still.
Yeah, you knew it was inevitable that Colorado would respond, but this Kraken team has a chance here stealing game 1.
I like the Wild’s chances, but its funny how so many MN fans think the sky is falling after game 2 when they have the edge stealing a road game. They need to shore up their PK which has been great all year, heck stay out of the box for starters. Play physical that is what helped them in game 1 and a North South game not cross ice passes through the neutral zone which led to so many turnovers.
somebody made a great point yesterday on KFAN, How would Wild fans be feeling had we lost the first game 7-3 and then won the second game 3-2 in double OT? We’d be feeling pretty good heading back home I imagine…
somebody made a great point yesterday on KFAN, How would Wild fans be feeling had we lost the first game 7-3 and then won the second game 3-2 in double OT? We’d be feeling pretty good heading back home I imagine…
Not buying it. IMO the OT win wasn’t very convincing and hardly a dominant performance. Dallas had multiple Grade A chances so that could EASILY have gone the other way. Yeah, yeah, it didn’t, but it sure as hell wasn’t as convincing as a 7-3 ass whipping.
Now if the situations were completely reversed and we had lost in OT and then WON 7-3, yes, I’d be feeling better about our chances.
We need Ek back in the lineup and Gus in goal. We also need the line reshuffles that will happen with players in and out not to disrupt things badly.
But the biggie is A players gotta be A players in the playoffs. KK, Zuc, and Boldy, who do you guys think you are, Kevin Fiala or something?
Find. The. Net. That is all.
I think however you slice and dice it, a split of the first 2 games on the road is a win. Hopefully we can learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. We need to get momentum going early in the game tonight. The energy at the X is crazy intense when the Wild have momentum in a playoff game.
They will go as far as the Gus bus can take them. I think that will be far enough to get out of the first round but then there will be the inevitable collapse that always follows a major accomplishment. And getting out of the first will be a major accomplishment for the Wild.
I don’t think you can count on Fluery to steal a game for you anymore he’s just as likely to give one away. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out if BG made the call to run Fluery out there. Fluery is like BG’s old dog just can’t bring himself to put him down even though he knows it’s time.
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