2022 MN WILD/NHL THREAD

Calgary is a fun team to watch. I love that arena all loaded up with red too.

Seems like the last few bad games we’ve played we haven’t been able to break out of our zone, our D arent making tape to tape passes or they just air-mail it to the neutral zone. Tuesday’s game will set the tone on where this team is headed, if they come out flat and roll over it could snowball bigtime…

mahtofire14 wrote:

The defense is beginning to be a big problem and our offense can’t move the puck to save their lives. Just proves this isn’t a cup team. I think we all knew it all along, but they gave us a glimmer of hope for awhile.

Also can someone explain to me the reasoning of benching Addison for Benn when we are playing one of the fastest teams in the league?

They seem to be able to beat the elite teams from the east but when it comes to the elite western teams they struggle. This is not a good recipe as of course the Stanley Cup road goes through the west before you get you’re shot at the east. I don’t see them completely tanking out but but I don’t I think the term “Cup Contenders” is something that can be applied to them. Might be a good thing as it lessens the chance of making some move at the deadline that may cost them later.

Another point for Fiala last night and that goal by KK was just crazy. I think he just threw it at the net and it found the only spot where it could go in but his instincts are good enough that he knew the area it had to go. I still believe his strong suit is his accuracy. Yes he’s an elite skater but it doesn’t seem to shine during the game say like Makar’s skating skills. Watching the two of them I’d say Makar actually has better skating skills. This upcoming game at home with Calgary is is important. They need to win or it could signal a prolonged losing streak. March is a friendly as far as being home but some tough match ups. April is also tough with two match ups with the Preds and the Blues. Those four games are going to determine a lot.

As far as Addison I can’t figure that one out either. Either Deano knows something we don’t or maybe he just doesn’t always make the right decisions. But if everyone’s healthy playing Addison over Benn should be a no brainer.

On another note if the Wild all of a sudden become sellers instead of buyers in the next couple of weeks and BG has intentions of moving Fiala he could bring a VERY high price. Or Dumba for that matter.

They play something like the next 18 of 24 games at home, more than enough time to right the ship, Tuesday’s game will be telling after last night’s woodshed beating…
At least Foligno acknowledged his recent lack of physicality in the postgame press conference… he and Hartman have been invisible the last 5-6 games…

honestly the only guys who seem to be playing the last 5-6 games have been the Gaudreau line, Freddy heard the comments about finding his replacement and has arguably been the Wild’s best player lately…

They are not trading Dumba or Fiala at the deadline for futures. That is just ridiculous to even talk about.

Ripjiggen wrote:

They are not trading Dumba or Fiala at the deadline. That is just ridiculous to even talk about.

Oh it’s highly unlikely but not an entirely ridiculous take. If they crash and burn and realize they are not going far in the playoffs. Who knows BG is a big, bad, bold mover and shaker he very well may entertain the thought if someone makes him a offer he can’t refuse. After all we all know one or the other have to go or perhaps both even.

I read something the other day that dumba bought a new house in the metro area. Not sure if that changes things though.

So they lose 3-4 games and they are going to crash and burn? Laughable.
It’s a ridiculous take.
They are currently still the 4th best team in the west why would they sell now for futures.
They may not be buying big at the deadline but they are not selling for futures.

Ripjiggen wrote:

So they lose 3-4 games and they are going to crash and burn? Laughable.
It’s a ridiculous take.
They are currently still the 4th best team in the west why would they sell now for futures.
They may not be buying big at the deadline but they are not selling for futures.

Never said they would crash and burn. There’s a word I put in before those words if you read closely you will see it. It’s not out of the realm of things. It’s happened before. Besides we all know somebody’s got to go sooner or later if the team continues to play poorly it could be sooner.

The wild really need to figure out how to get out of their zone when the opponent applies a quick fuul court press.
Every team that has jumped on them quick after a turnover has bottled them up in their zone.
If they can’t solve that problem they won’t go far.

Calgary d men are a perfect example of what the wild don’t have. They’re big and physical while maintaining plenty of speed. I think that game along is proof that it’s going to take more than a Claude girioux or Tomas hertl to get them over the hump.
With that being said do they have a chance? Yes probably not a very high odds chance. However I do think this team could make someone’s life hell for a 7 game series and stir the pot. A hot goalie and anything can happen we all know they can score on most nights.
Regardless they are a fun team to watch, more so than teams of the past. I haven’t noticed myself cussing the TV out nearly as much this season.

I really think a lot of them are playing banged up. I can’t imagine this team being so inept on the offensive side after being incredible the past 30 games for no reason. Zucc and Kaprizov can’t even get the puck to each other lately.

They just played 4 tough road games (Destroyed an Oilers team who had been on a 5 game win streak, Outplayed but Lost to a young & hungry Ottawa team that is no longer a push over, lost to one of the best teams in the east after giving up a late 3rd period goal to the league leader and then lost to the Pacific division leader who had won 10 of their last 11 games) there’s ZERO reason to panic…

I’m not panicking. I just think we are seeing what is normally going to happen to this team when they go up against the best teams. Especially when playing every other night.

They definitely have to respond in tomorrow nights game. Not just play a good game they need a win here to get some lost confidence back. I’m guessing we will see Talbot back and it will be important to see how he responds. If they get roughed up by the Flames again it could be tough to get back on the rails.

I think it’s a good thing they get the Flames right away again. A chance to redeem themselves against a top team instead of a win over a bottom feeder. I look for them to come out flying and come away with a nice win. Wild win 5-2. Or I could be wrong

We knew these last few games were going to be tough and it showed. The teams they have played recently are all contending teams and have been riding high with winning streaks, etc.
These streaks happen to all teams. The better teams have them lest frequently and right the ship faster. We will see what this team is made of tomorrow night. Dean had some very strong comments about the team this morning so I expect them to be fired up.
There was talk about pulling Visas for Russian athletes. This would be a huge mistake and I really hope they wouldnt do that. The players have nothing to do with what Russia is doing and they cannot do anything about it.

CaptainMusky wrote:

There was talk about pulling Visas for Russian athletes.

was this from Dominic Hasek’s crazy comments?

JoeMX1825 wrote:

was this from Dominic Hasek’s crazy comments?

I dont know if it was a result of his comments or not, just read it this morning.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>CaptainMusky wrote:</div>
There was talk about pulling Visas for Russian athletes.

was this from Dominic Hasek’s crazy comments?

Hasek went off the deep end calling Ovi a liar and chicken $hit after Ovi fielded question about the invasion. I thought Ovi did rather well staying out of the fray. He has a future as a politician. He’s the only one calling for Russian athletes to have their visa’s pulled and excluded from play. He be cray-cray!

There are Russian players sprinkled throughout most of the NHL rosters. Asking them to talk about this to me is in poor taste. We in the West have no idea what its like “over there”.
So Talbot in net, I didnt see the rest of the proposed lineup, but sounds like Dumba and Greener are skating but not with the team. Dumba may even make the roadtrip so that is good.

I picked a good weekend to not watch any games

For anyone worried the sky is falling on the Wild… Vegas is 1-3-1 since swapping Eichel for Stone and currently 1 point from being out of a playoff spot.

Wild are having a rough patch but still comfortably in the 2/3 spot of the very tough Central. Redemption tour begins tonight.

tswoboda wrote:

Redemption tour begins tonight.

Hope so.

Oh and Ottawa is currently sticking it to the back to back champs.

Looks like we aren’t going to change much tonight….

Foligno Ek Duhaime line at least throwing their weight around tonight.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Looks like we aren’t going to change much tonight….

Yeah great start huh

Starting to find their legs a bit now. Talbot seems like he’s sliding all over the place.

2 power plays and I think the Wild won one faceoff and lost 5… thats at least 60 seconds worth of wasted time just retrieving the puck…

Our D are just soft, there’s no way around it… its now pretty obvious why Goligoski hasnt been extended….

HUGE 2nd period coming up for the team’s mindset…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

2 power plays and I think the Wild won one faceoff and lost 5… thats at least 60 seconds worth of wasted time just retrieving the puck…

Our D are just soft, there’s no way around it… its now pretty obvious why Goligoski hasnt been extended….

HUGE 2nd period coming up for the team’s mindset…

Yeah PP is really hard to watch the last handful of games. The thing I can’t figure out about our D is all these cross ice passes getting through in front of the net. Seems like those were getting broken up when we were playing well. I’d assume that’s due to positioning.

At least they are showing a little fight tonight. Second goal was a bad break.

Joe,we aren’t talking faceoffs remember? Sturm has been terrible.