Boston and Raask played great last night. As far as line changes, I would like to see Ballard, Brodziak, and Heatly see less playing time. I also agree that Koivu needs to step up and be a leader. He got burned big time on that 3rd goal. Ballard just looks lost out there sometime. It’s great to see a MN guy playing for the hometown team, but it seems like he doesn’t see the game very well.
There is such a thing as puck luck and the Wild just haven’t had ANY of it lately. It all comes out even in the end, but the Wild are just not getting any breaks right now and therefore everything comes hard.
Boston, what can you say about them? That’s what a top team looks like and plays like. You’re not going to get many chances against a team like that and if you don’t capitalize on the ones you do get… There’s some really, really good teams in the NHL right now and bad luck to have to play one of the few in the East, but that’s the way it goes. Can’t say the Wild were blown out, they were within 1 goal the majority of the game and they made Boston work pretty hard at times.
Totally agree, stop messing with the lines. Which, BTW, I think Yeo has said he’s intending to.
Islanders tonight and the Wild need to be ready to put a hurt on them. This is a should-win for the Wild and they need to be up for it.
This will be my first chance to see Bryzgalov in goal, I wasn’t able to watch the other game he started.
Grouse
I am a little but behind in the DVRed game right now, but the Bryz looks sharp. I also like the line combinations. Despite Heater’s poor start, I think his game deserves 16 minutes a night and these combos will get him that. That goal by Moulson is a typical Moulson goal. He’s a decent sniper, but he’s even better collecting garbage and getting goals in the in front of the net.
I think we found the right line combos. 
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I think we found the right line combos.
Yes note to Yeo, leave the lines alone. This will work.
Wild win 6-0.
Grouse
Hope this is jumping off point for Moulson. Those are the types of goals he scores and that was the type of scoring we were missing.
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I think we found the right line combos.
At least for last night things were working. Was good to see the boys be able to cruise a little bit and have some fun. The mad Ruskoveit looked good. But they still got out shot which is bad news against the leagues best snipers.
Gundy
They played the ISLANDERS. Edina might give them as good a game. Absolutely no conclusions can be drawn from this game other than they got 2 points.
How much of the game did you watch?
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I think we found the right line combos.
At least for last night things were working. Was good to see the boys be able to cruise a little bit and have some fun. The mad Ruskoveit looked good. But they still got out shot which is bad news against the leagues best snipers.
Gundy
All this is true.
Another fun piece of the line puzzle is that Haula was sitting out last night. So the lines aren’t going to stay the same right there because Haula is going to be put back in the mix somewhere.
Kudos to Koivu for passing up Glass Groin Gaborik as the Wild’s all time points leader. BTW, I missed the fact that ol’ Glass Groin got dealt to LA by the Jackets. Probably the end of the road for the Wild’s first #1 pick Gaborik, then?
I’ll say that Wild are looking like they pulled off a pretty good deal getting Moulson. The firepower is there as last night showed.
Did anyone else see that goal Fontaine got that the refs (and everyone else) thought just hit the crossbar? Wow, that was a laser shot. I yelled “score!” based on the way it came out at the funny downward angle, but then I hit rewind on the DVR and at full speed you could NOT see that that puck went it. Luckily, they reviewed it and gave him the goal. Point in favor of instant reply.
Grouse
Fontaine is a gem.
I am beginning to think the Wild might go ahead and buy Brodziak out this summer. With the emergence or Haula and Fonatine, he’s expendable and taking up space. Not sure there are any takers in an offseason trade.
We currently have Nino, Coyle, Granlund, Fontaine, Haula and even Zucker who are NHL ready. I know they have a couple more shut down defensive centers in the system that will possibly also be ready in a few years.
Speaking of Granlund, holy crap has his game matured. He’s a completely different player from last year.
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Speaking of Granlund, holy crap has his game matured. He’s a completely different player from last year.
Totally agree. He might not be “big” as NHL players go, but he so explosive. He’ll be battling for the puck and then a defensive player will try to push him off and BANG, he just rolls them off his shoulders and explodes away WITH complete control of the puck. Quick, slippery, great control, and trying to pin him down is like trying to hold down a pitbull whose @ss has been lit on fire.
Would be interesting to see if they can deal Brodziak, but I’m not holding my breath.
Grouse
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Speaking of Granlund, holy crap has his game matured. He’s a completely different player from last year.
Totally agree. He might not be “big” as NHL players go, but he so explosive. He’ll be battling for the puck and then a defensive player will try to push him off and BANG, he just rolls them off his shoulders and explodes away WITH complete control of the puck. Quick, slippery, great control, and trying to pin him down is like trying to hold down a pitbull whose @ss has been lit on fire.
Would be interesting to see if they can deal Brodziak, but I’m not holding my breath.
Grouse
Grandlund is becoming something special. We were due for a game like this. But there is some very tough games coming up and I think we will Be back to questioning our leadership and toughness. big boy season is a com’n.
Gundy
Looks like Chicago is getting tuned up for the cup run. Looked like the big bad Blackhawks last night. Maybe St. Louis had a bad night.
Gundy
If the Wild make the playoffs (don’t want to curse them), I hope we play Anaheim. I think that’s our best chance at getting out of the first round. I wouldn’t mind Chicago either (given it will be the Hawks, Blues or Ducks). I think the Hawks might take us for granted being they beat us in the 1st round last year. I don’t even think they played us that hard last year and still were able to sleepwalk through the first round since we were dealing with a bunch of injuries.
Not to mention Kane is out for 3 weeks and might just be returning for the first round.
“If the Wild make the playoffs ” 
Geez, I thought it was a given they were in. 
You better than anyone about the curse.
By the way, the Twins will place last in the league this year.
Your welcome. 
The Twins “Limb” is creaking 
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You better than anyone about the curse.
By the way, the Twins will place last in the league this year.
Your welcome.
They won’t even finish last in their division.
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If the Wild make the playoffs (don’t want to curse them), I hope we play Anaheim. I think that’s our best chance at getting out of the first round.
I believe they said on the radio that if the playoffs started the day of the NYI game, the Wild would be matched against Anaheim.
Did anyone else hear that?
Grouse
I heard that. This is what I don’t like about the new Wild card. Say Phoenix beats out Dallas for the 8th spot and we finish 7th. Then let’s say the Blues have the most points in the West and the Ducks the second most. That means we have to play against the other division the first 2 rounds and the Coyotes would have to play in our division.
Personally I prefer if a team from each division makes the Wild card, keep them in their divisional bracket. If both Wild Card teams are from the same division, then let #1 face #8 and #2 face #7.
It doesn’t matter who the Wild play in the playoffs. They are going to struggle. Nothing below the first line.
Gundy
Of course I was putting the kids to bed last night and missed all the action. Wild were dazed, confused, and dead on their feet until I went upstairs just after the start of the 3rd.
And I came down just after it ended in OT. Dammit! Missed the whole thing and didn’t have the DVR running.
I was complaining about it and the ever-helpful Mrs. Grouse says, “Look at it this way. You stopped watching, and the Wild made a huge comeback and almost won. Maybe it’s you?”
Thanks.
Grouse
Finally! no more curse of the pug, it’s the curse of the grouse.
Hope the Wild are ready for this afternoon’s tilt. Are all the teams schedule’s as messed up as the Wild’s?? 3 games in 4 nights and then and afternoon game??
Gundy
3 games in 4 nights referring to the previous games? Not to mention we got 2 back to backs starting today. I assume with the Olympics every team has had to deal with this at some point.
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I heard that. This is what I don’t like about the new Wild card. Say Phoenix beats out Dallas for the 8th spot and we finish 7th. Then let’s say the Blues have the most points in the West and the Ducks the second most. That means we have to play against the other division the first 2 rounds and the Coyotes would have to play in our division.
Personally I prefer if a team from each division makes the Wild card, keep them in their divisional bracket. If both Wild Card teams are from the same division, then let #1 face #8 and #2 face #7.
I like your idea for keeping it within the division. Doing it this way would only add to the excitement of playoff games and future regular season games since rivalries are made in the playoffs.
I don’t know if that’s your reasoning for that adjustment to the playoff format, but that’s why I like it. It would also cut down on travel during the playoffs.
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3 games in 4 nights referring to the previous games? Not to mention we got 2 back to backs starting today. I assume with the Olympics every team has had to deal with this at some point.
I guess I wonder about guys like Suter who play 30 minutes a game. Unless he is superman he has to be dogging it some of the time his ice time. 
Well I am losing faith. The team looked like a timing belt broke.
Gundy
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