Regarding standings, I think we still have a few games in hand as well.
Yes, the Wild are only 9 games back of the Blues, but with 2 fewer games played as well, 17 vs 19.
Nashville has won 5 in a row to make a big move. Now’s the time for the Wild to make a steady move to get in touch with the playoff spots.
Grouse
Why does the league have to drag out the pain and agony of the obviously wrong decision to overexpand in non-hockey southern markets like AZ and FL? It’s an embarrassment to the sport to see AZ and FL play to half full arenas and on top of that 20% of the crowd is wearing the opponent’s sweater.
Attendance
Rank Team GMS Attendance Ave/G Capacity
6 Tampa Bay 9 171,828 19,092 100.0
7 Minnesota 8 151,370 18,921 105.4
Florida. Not Tanpa. Dang southerners don’t even know the difference. One more reason to pull out.
Grouse
I miss Witkowski. He doesn’t mess around.
I see another ski, Bartkowski was in the fray. Us Polaks got a short fuse, eh Biggill?
Stay off my lawn.
Wild come back, Tampa trouncing, I can’t wait until June.
well that game was fun to watch!
That 3rd period was crazy!
A coworker (Pens fan) who ran into me at the coffee machine: “Well the Wild were hot, but ran into a hotter team”. I said clearly you didn’t see the final score. LOL
“What!? They won?”
On the Nino overturned goal call, I totally get the batting the puck in with a glove, but IMO its different if the glove is ON the stick. Not sure I like that call, but it is what it is. If his glove hadn’t been there he most likely would have knocked it in with his shaft.
well that game was fun to watch!
There’s no doubt about it! that was fun to watch. 1st period was really hard to keep the faith up but they pulled through in the end. I’m just glad I stayed up to watch it! 4 in row for Bruce Boudreau!! Hopefully they can keep riding Duubs!
Had to watch the highlights to see the gloved goal. I wonder if it would have counted had he batted it off the back of his glove while holding the stick and/or if he didn’t motion his glove toward the net. If you can redirect with your skate and body, I don’t know why you can’t use a glove while holding the stick.
Nice to see the team bail out Doobs after Doobs bailed them out the last 3 games. Those were some bad goals.
I am really getting tired of the goalie interference rules. There is absolutely no consistency. There was a goal disallowed in the TB game with far less contact than the one they allowed on Doobs.
What a game by the Wild. You could tell the Preads thought it was over in the second and they were dazed and confused when the Wild came roaring back.
This was the best of what makes the Wild a consistent team. They do NOT go away, they are dangerous across multiple lines, and they burn teams that can’t keep up defensive focus.
Great example, Nino was obviously on fire last night and drew a lot of attention. The Preads were pretty proud of themselves for muscling Granny off the puck a couple of times and containing Koivu. They completely forgot about Zucker. Burn.
I was disappointed in the slow start, the Preads are well-known to be a fast starting team and the weak goal allowed in the first was really lame. The Wild should be better than that, they knew it was coming.
Kunin and Ek are still pretty green and it shows, but as they get NHL-fast and smart, I have confidence they will contribute more. Ek was making typical rookie mistakes that are magnified against a top-tier team like Nashville.
I hope the Dumba Bomb is now officially back! That monster point shot had the double whammy in the past, he could score with it, but also it was also a weapon because whoever is out on the ice on the opposing line better be willing to feel the pain if they’re going square up to Dumba’s cup-cracker. There’s been move than a few hobblers leaving the ice after they “blocked” a Dumba shot, that needs to continue.
Finally, I love, love, love to see the Wild continue with the soul crushing empty net dagger! Limit that extra man option to true desperation time and evne then make them pay every time.
Announcer brought up the fact that Suter has now played more games for the Wild than he has for Nashville, so attention Preads fans, you can no get over it and quit being the biggest d!cks in the NHL with this lame booing of Suter.
wonder if it would have counted had he batted it off the back of his glove while holding the stick and/or if he didn’t motion his glove toward the net.
The rule is the same for any body part or piece of equipment other than the stick. A deflection off of anything is legal. Using any body part or piece of equipment other than the stick to PROPEL the puck into the goal is not allowed. The reversal was correct, no goal.
Grouse
I am really getting tired of the goalie interference rules. There is absolutely no consistency. There was a goal disallowed in the TB game with far less contact than the one they allowed on Doobs.
totally agree and I think everyone in the NHL agrees…I think i’m like 2/10 on making the same call the refs eventually go with, I have no idea what truly is the criteria anymore…they need to remove it, it’s part of hockey…
Anyone see the brawl between the wings and flames? Old time hockey! Kind of.
The Wild had one line play consistently throughout the game,against the Predators.
That will be their achilles heel this season. Last year they could roll out three competitive lines shift after shift.
This season so far lines 2-3-4 seem unable to keep pace, they are being beaten to the pucks and out muscled when on the boards and in the corners.
They do not have the speed that made them highly competitive last season.
The game plan to give Dubes a rest this season is quickly crumbling,the goalies face way to many shots on goal per game.
It’s pretty obvious that Dubes will wear down as this season
Progresses.
Stalock gets the start tonight. Dubnyk must’ve seen too many shots this week.
Chance The Rapper plays a hockey commentator in one of the funniest SNL skits in years.
Grouse
To misquote Wayne Campbell, “At the Wild game last night I thought I had come down with mono, but it turns out I was just really bored.”
The most exciting part of the whole game was drinking coffee and talking with the other people in our section about how boring the game was.
Here are lowlights:
1. Coyle is back. He played a totally boring game.
2. Grandlund scored two boring goals.
3. The Wild became victims of their own boredom and gave up the puck 30 seconds into OT for the loss.
That is all. I need to lie down.
Grouse
If the wheels aren’t coming of they’re shaking pretty hard. The defensive play is atrocious. I’m also noticing that they just aren’t forcing any penalties anymore either.
Seems like a slump to me.
I think the wild are really suffering from basically every team in the division getting better while the wild spin their wheels this year. It’s up to the Wild, Hawks, Avd and stars to battle for the 3 wild cards.
I think the wild are really suffering from basically every team in the division getting better while the wild spin their wheels this year. It’s up to the Wild, Hawks, Avd and stars to battle for the 3 wild cards.
Look at the Pacific Division Pug! I think its conceivable NONE of the Central teams get a Wildcard.
I would be interested to see stats comparing teams rosters from End of Season last year to now with player turnover and where they are right now year over year.
We lost 9 players. How that stacks up against other teams would be interesting and records comparatively.
If I get some free time I might start downloading data to compare. Might make me feel better or worse about the WIld. LOL
Whoops, 2 Wild Cards.
It’s also conceivable that the Coyotes win the cup! I am just saying that barring injuries, I don’t see STL, NASH or WIN dropping out of the 3 divisional playoff spots.
It sure would be nice if the Wild would have a breakout player once. What is up with Eriksson Ek? Just another mediocre prospect from the pool that we will have to wait 3-4 years before he scores 20?
Nice to see Zucker back to the pace he set in 2014-15. Getting PP time helps that. I never understood his lack of PP time. I guess maybe because he’s more a speed guy, but he has a knack for scoring.
I think the wild are really suffering from basically every team in the division getting better while the wild spin their wheels this year. It’s up to the Wild, Hawks, Avd and stars to battle for the 3 wild cards.
Exactly right.
And what I pointed to in the other thread. The Wild are still hamstrung by the Riseborough incompetence. Those 6 blown first round draft picks in a row that Riseborough p!ssed away on useless players should have been the picks that formed the backbone of the team now. Those 6 should have been in the prime of their careers, instead, 5 of the 6 haven’t played in the NHL for years.
This is a great example of how a back office bonehead can screw a team for many years. Not one player from those 6 years of Riseborough first round picks is wearing a Wild sweater now.
The whole West is strong and that’s on top of the East being stacked with both old powerhouses and up and comers like Tampa.
Unfortunately, I think the Wild are going to have to focus on muddling ahead and trying to develop the young players they have. We need to get Kaprasov over here, we need Olafson, Ek, and Kunin to mature, and we need to get some of our other 2nd and 3rd rounders up to big league standards.
We also need some current players to play better. Grandlund and Nino have been playing well, so has Zucker. The rest of the offense is thin at best and we need some of the younger players to get on their horses. Coyle needs to finally start producing at a consistent pace. There isn’t room on the bus for a player of his age to be a streaky producer.
I’m sure the team is frustrated, but they need to just keep going.
Somebody tell me we actually have all our draft picks this year? I don’t recall that we traded any away, but some of these pick trades dated way back. Please tell me we have a R1 pick????
Grouse
up and comers like Tampa
Hey now, they are not up and comers! Yzerman is a heck of a GM.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>TheFamousGrouse wrote:</div>
up and comers like TampaHey now, they are not up and comers! Yzerman is a heck of a GM.
Can we make a trade for Stevie Y?
Whoops, 2 Wild Cards.
It’s also conceivable that the Coyotes win the cup! I am just saying that barring injuries, I don’t see STL, NASH or WIN dropping out of the 3 divisional playoff spots.
I get ya now. Agreed, the Blues, Preds and Jets are going to be tough to overcome so its going to be a real battle for those Wildcard spots and I am NOT liking our chances.
Last nights game was an ugly one. I hope to not see to many of those anymore or ever again. I was upset after letting them tie the game, then it was 4-2.. It was 6-2 before I could even find the dang remote! Not sure whats going on with this team right now but I sure hope it changes soon! I couldn’t have said it any better than what @thefamousgrouse just posted. We need a LOT more from Coyle and the others.
You remember the whole Drouin controversy and how he handled it? He got him to come back and play well for the Bolts. Then he passed on all the trade rumors. This year he trades him to the Canadians for Sergachev, as well as a 6 round 2018 pick for a 2nd. The kid (Sergachev) is 19 and could end up being an elite defenseman. He’s got 5G 10A right now. He’s not paired with Hedman much either, usually it is Stralman.
You know I always say when making the jump to the NHL, defence is the hardest position, but this kid has adjusted well.
Apparently I shouldn’t have bought tickets…thats when it came crashing down recently
You remember the whole Drouin controversy and how he handled it? He got him to come back and play well for the Bolts. Then he passed on all the trade rumors. This year he trades him to the Canadians for Sergachev, as well as a 6 round 2018 pick for a 2nd. The kid (Sergachev) is 19 and could end up being an elite defenseman. He’s got 5G 10A right now. He’s not paired with Hedman much either, usually it is Stralman.
You know I always say when making the jump to the NHL, defence is the hardest position, but this kid has adjusted well.
Agreed, Yzerman held strong on that whole Drouin thing and took some flak for it because of the distraction, but they came out stronger for it. Smart move on his part. He didn’t put the best interest of the team over that of being held hostage to the demands/wishes of a player. That is how this should work, but not all GMs have the same intestinal fortitude or bargaining chips. We have seen that Fletch hasn’t had the ability to get anything of value for our “deep D corps” in recent years. Perhaps he wanted too much, but either way he wasn’t successful in shopping mainly Brodin and even Scandella.
The Bolts are a very fun team. I admire them from afar for sure. Lots of skill up and down that lineup.
I’m not sure I would characterize Fletcher’s dealing Scandella as a package to get us out of the Pominville contract as “getting nothing”. Since all teams are under the same cap, cap space is as valuable as money because without cap space you have no options. What we “got” for Scandella is the ability to keep other players and still be under the cap. Somebody had to go and options were pretty limited.
The Wild’s D is not playing up to capacity. Not sure what the problem is, but Dumba is just playing stupid out there and spraying water and getting a penalty last night was just brain dead. He’d best be careful or he’ll be riding the pine in Bruce’s doghouse for longer than half a period.
Deals seem very, very hard to come by these days.
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