First real test of adversity for the Bolts. Hedman suffered an injury last night and we won’t know the extent until tests today. The good thing is they are now on their 5 day break, so ifit is minor, he can heal. But after the break they have an 8 game road trip.
An 8 game road trip? Wow, that is brutal.
Hopefully Hedman isn’t too bad, he would have some big skates to fill for sure.
Yeah, but I misspoke. They play Vegas at home first next Thursday. Then off to Minni to start the 8 game trip. Those 1st 6 games are tough too.
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Yeah, that is a tough schedule. The last 2 are no gimmes either. I have to think that eventually the Oilers are going to get going and Vancouver isn’t awful either.
Did they have their Bye yet? Wild have that coming up.
Sucks that we got Nino back for one game (gets a hat trick) then he is probably out multiple weeks (including BYE week).
I saw this image today of the KHL All-Star uniforms…sure wish he had a Wild jersey on instead…
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They are on their bye week now. Next game next Thursday.
Just another instance of replay ruining a sporting event. Only replay I want is if the ball, puck crossed the goal line went over the wall.
They want to take the human element out of a game played by humans.
The NBC guys were complaining about the offide challenge during the Wild/Hawks game and one of them said the dumbest thing I’d ever herd: He said there should be a time limit so after a team was in the zone for so long, their offside entry could not be reviewed. Dumbest thing I’d ever heard. What does time have to do with it? If the zone entry was offside, then it’s offside. Would a goal be disallowed if it hit the back bar and bounced out and they didn’t stop play to reivew it for a minute afterward?
Offside is the toughest thing to call in hockey because look how many zone entries you have to get right in the course of a game. I’ve officiated youth hockey and it’s difficult even at THAT slow of a pace to get offside right. That’s why the NHL put in the challenge, of all the calls in a game offside is the toughest to call at full speed AND look how many times in the course of a game the call has to be made. Getting it wrong is inevitable.
Go to a HS hockey game sometime and sit at the blue line and try to make every offside call on each entry into that zone. See how often you either call it off when the LM doesn’t or vice versa. It’s damn hard when you have to do it at speed and I’m talking HS. Your head would explode at the pro level.
BTW, the call during the review of the Blackhawks goal was right on. The official should have said the review was inconclusive and therefore the call on the ice stands, but aside from not saying it right, the right call was made.
I think changing the rule from “skate on ice” to in the air but still out of the zone would make it harder to call. With the down the blueline cameras, it is far easier to see if the skate has to be on the ice.
Change the rule and now you get into a football style BS of having to extend the plane of the blue line up into invisible air and then be able to judge by a fraction of an inch where the skate is in that plane. At least this way if the skate comes off the ice, it’s offside regardless.
It was a little painful to watch the Wild vs Hawks because I was just waiting for the Blackhawks to make use of all their zone time and score 4 goals in about 5 minutes to put the game out of reach. Wild did a good job of not allowing clean shots or space to get a quality chance in the third.
One thing I have to say is the Wild aren’t getting a lot of style points, but they are making their limited opportunities count. The stick is getting gripped too tight again, guys are hesitating to shoot and opting to pass instead, but then Spurgeon finally lets go and look what happens.
The Blackhawks do a lot of east-west weaving and dipsy doodling in the O zone and this just p!sses me off. Probably because I wish we could do it more, but man I just want to see Kane get freaking laid out with an Old School Scott Stevens open ice bonecrusher hit just once when he does that circle behind the net and then back out above the dots crap. Easier said than done because Kane will give up the puck to avoid hits, but still…
Grouse
I think changing the rule from “skate on ice” to in the air but still out of the zone would make it harder to call. With the down the blueline cameras, it is far easier to see if the skate has to be on the ice.
Change the rule and now you get into a football style BS of having to extend the plane of the blue line up into invisible air and then be able to judge by a fraction of an inch where the skate is in that plane. At least this way if the skate comes off the ice, it’s offside regardless.
The refs now have to gauge if they are behind the blueline AND touching the ice. You would just be taking one part out of the equation.
I believe it was Milbury who said the time limit deal. Saying something stupid is nothing new for him.
I saw this image today of the KHL All-Star uniforms…sure wish he had a Wild jersey on instead…
His legs are like tree trunks. Definitely has the makings to be someone hard to move off the puck.
I think changing the rule from “skate on ice” to in the air but still out of the zone would make it harder to call.
Respectfully disagree. It would be easier, and the interpretation should be offsides only if it is obvious. Too close to call, or inconclusive, should go in favor of the offense.
Open up the game a little more…. just ridiculous how it is now.
Respectfully disagree. It would be easier, and the interpretation should be offsides only if it is obvious. Too close to call, or inconclusive, should go in favor of the offense.
I just can’t see if a player was in stride and had his back skate 12 inches off the ice, how would you accurately extend the “plane of the blue line” to determine if that in-the-air skate was or was not on side? It’s hard enough to do this when the skate is right there on the ice, but take the skate off the ice and then it becomes theoretical geometry.
I saw this image today of the KHL All-Star uniforms…sure wish he had a Wild jersey on instead…
I wonder how many NHL games Kaprisov will play in before some declare he is “too small” to ever be a force? Cue the Pierre Marc Kaprisov jokes… He’ll never be a “top level” ….
Grouse
I guess we’ll wait and see, but he doesn’t shy away from the physical areas of the ice and has been a proven scorer in every league he’s been in so far…
3-6 weeks for Hedman.
Nice complete game for the Wild last night, beating the Western Conference-leading team 4-1. The Wild played in the Jets zone for most of the 1st and limited SOGs to something like 5. Good D all night and the ever-present and super-annoying Jets fans were kept in their seats most of the night.
Dumba was on fire last night. He was feeling it and it showed. This is a great sign. I had said before that we weren’t letting enough Dumba cup cracker shots loose from the point. In the past this has been a double threat, he can certainly score, but also players that want step up and block that shot are going to feel the pain. Here’s hoping this continues.
Grandlund was also very good last night, the bigger, slower Jets were chasing him all night with little success.
OK, now a serious question for you guys that attend games.
Is the fan experience at the X now the worst in the league? Anyone else think the game experience at the Excel Energy Center is slipping?
They used to do all kinds of entertaining stuff to try to get the fans into it and make fun of the opposing team and fans. Just as an example, anyone remember the “hoser cam” every time the Jets were in town? And the Bob/Doug McKenzie bits?
Now it’s crickets. We get a power play and it’s the same lame commercial plug for Xcel Energy that we had what, 10 years ago? Gordy shoots the t-shirt cannon from the same spot that can’t get to 3/4 of the arena every game.
Oh, and last night we were treated for the 12th time this season to “middle-aged energy guy” dancing in the aisles and stripping off t-shirts to throw. Yeeeah us.
The concession lines move at a snail’s pace and the workers plod along filling one order at the time and holding up entire lines waiting for 1 item. My nachos last night consisted of about 400 quarter inch fragments of what once must have been tortilla chips. The two bartenders at the 2 Ginger’s bar consistently pour about 6 drinks per hour if they’re feeling like working hard that night. Unless you run out with 5 minutes left in the period, good luck getting a drink there during period break.
Is the Excel slipping or is it this way everywhere?
Grouse
Sounds like a great time Grouse. Maybe setting up shop on your sofa would work better?
I go for the game and I don’t pay attention to the other stuff between periods you were complaining about. I will say the food at the X is horrible. San Jose SAP place really have things figured out. Very fun place to see a game. The Pepsi center in Denver isn’t very nice. Those are the only other places I have been to do far.
Nice complete game for the Wild last night, beating the Western Conference-leading team 4-1. The Wild played in the Jets zone for most of the 1st and limited SOGs to something like 5. Good D all night and the ever-present and super-annoying Jets fans were kept in their seats most of the night.
Dumba was on fire last night. He was feeling it and it showed. This is a great sign. I had said before that we weren’t letting enough Dumba cup cracker shots loose from the point. In the past this has been a double threat, he can certainly score, but also players that want step up and block that shot are going to feel the pain. Here’s hoping this continues.
Grandlund was also very good last night, the bigger, slower Jets were chasing him all night with little success.
OK, now a serious question for you guys that attend games.
Is the fan experience at the X now the worst in the league? Anyone else think the game experience at the Excel Energy Center is slipping?
They used to do all kinds of entertaining stuff to try to get the fans into it and make fun of the opposing team and fans. Just as an example, anyone remember the “hoser cam” every time the Jets were in town? And the Bob/Doug McKenzie bits?
Now it’s crickets. We get a power play and it’s the same lame commercial plug for Xcel Energy that we had what, 10 years ago? Gordy shoots the t-shirt cannon from the same spot that can’t get to 3/4 of the arena every game.
Oh, and last night we were treated for the 12th time this season to “middle-aged energy guy” dancing in the aisles and stripping off t-shirts to throw. Yeeeah us.
The concession lines move at a snail’s pace and the workers plod along filling one order at the time and holding up entire lines waiting for 1 item. My nachos last night consisted of about 400 quarter inch fragments of what once must have been tortilla chips. The two bartenders at the 2 Ginger’s bar consistently pour about 6 drinks per hour if they’re feeling like working hard that night. Unless you run out with 5 minutes left in the period, good luck getting a drink there during period break.
Is the Excel slipping or is it this way everywhere?
Grouse
Good time to play the bolts with Hedman out. Careful though. I think Kucherov is angry after last game.
3-0 in the second. That was completely unexpected from a team coming off a bye week and facing the best team in the league.
Hopefully they are starting a run. It’s going to be a tough second half. I believe there are 3 teams out of a playoff spot with a positive goal differential.
I don’t see this team going on a run but I do see them having a better second half that puts them in the playoffs. Not sure which other teams will push into the playoffs but there are a few above that are coming back to earth.
This team is finally almost completely healthy and anything can happen bum skeptical because in order for this team to soar they desperately need big help from the younger players. No one is really standing out. Zucker is playing well but not putting the puck in the net.
Ever since the start of the season I’ve been less than excited and I’ll admit nothing has changes. There seems to be more to be frustrated with than there is to be excited about.
A couple of nice home wins for the Wild. Last night seemed like it had the makings of a route, but there they sit, tied 1-1 with a team that had no business being in the game. Pulled it out in the end. Pretty solid play overall.
Parise gets his first REAL goal of the season 20 seconds into the game. That was nice.
Is there anyone as streaky at scoring as Zucker? Seriously, the guy just puts them in in bunches. I think he had a 7 game streak earlier this year, now he sits at 4. Only a few goals shy of his personal season best total too. Having a breakout season for sure.
If we could get Nino back healthy and somehow get Coyle back on wing I think it would certainly help his game too. Part of his issue this year is because he is playing center. Last year he was wing and had a much better season.
You guys hear about all the issues some of the players had getting to the rink on time? Ennis rear ended Dumba right near the arena. Ennis, Dumba and Brodin had a police escort of sorts for a stretch.
Brodin made it less than 10 minutes before warmups.
Winnick was stuck in traffic and just ditched his car in a parking lot and walked the rest of the way. LOL what an adventure.
Are they just handcuffed with Coyle and can’t put him on the wing. There is no question his offense is better on wing.
I was thinking the deal about “streaky” players is that guys who score 20 goals in a 82 game season would on average score every 4 games. Maybe it’s just a numbers game for many players. I mean players scoring 40 goals a year aren’t going to seem as streaky because on average they are scoring 1 every 2 games.
Are they just handcuffed with Coyle and can’t put him on the wing. There is no question his offense is better on wing.
Yeah, they haven’t been playing Ek at Center as much so that means they have Koivu, Cullen, Coyle, Staal. Not sure if its a trust issue with Ek, I know he struggled mightily on faceoffs early on. It was under 30%.
His play lately has been pretty good. Often with young guys playing Center is a tough spot to adjust because of the additional responsibility.
I just do not like Coyle at Center and I think it really hurts his game. He can be much more physical when he is at wing.
Ek is surprisingly big and physical. I didn’t expect that from him. Don’t get me wrong he isn’t going to blow anyone up, but he definitely makes guys feel him when he is out there.
Right on about the “streaky player” analysis. It just seems with Zucker that he goes long stretches without a goal and now had a goal in 4 straight (he had 8 goals in 5 games earlier this year). He is sitting at 19 goals right now just ahead of the All Star Game. He had 22 all last year. He is having a great year thus far stats wise and he was invisible for a large chunk of the season.
He has had 2 7 game goal-less streaks and 1 8 gamer. So that is 22 games somewhat strung together with no goals, while he has 19 goals in the other 26 games. He seems to string together a drought and then goes on a bit of a tear rattling off multiple goals in multiple games.
This team really misses Nino.
I am really tired of trotting Stewart out there. He has no business being on this team. I see squirts that do more skating than he does. He glides all over and just does circles. His D coverage is terrible.
Finally being on the PP is big for Zucker and Nino. That was my biggest beef with Yeo was that he would trod out the 1st PP unit and the 2nd unit barely got any time ever.
As of today there are 7 teams in the Western Conf from the Blues to the Kings that are all in the mix for playoff spots 4-8. As Boudreau mentioned it’s a time in the season for teams to move and start to separate themselves.
Two nice wins for the Wild and even better I think they showed HOW this team needs to win.
The Tampa game was defensive mastery and THAT is what the Wild need to do every game. They had Stamkos/Kucherov pinned down and playing defense for shift after shift. Stamkos was clearly frustrated because they could not get over the red line for entire shifts. That line was totally shut down for an entire game.
The score of that game was really 5-1, it was an absolutely retarded refing call that gave Tampa that 5 on 3 power play. I have never seen anything like that, you have a legit call against the Wild and then a pushing match ensues and you pull another Wild player off for it? Who was on the other side doing the pushing for Tampa?
That’s how you play a top team and win. Great job for the Wild, one of the 5 best performances all season.
Is there anyone as streaky at scoring as Zucker? Seriously, the guy just puts them in in bunches.
Well, one could answer with Coyle, but “streaky” implies that there’s periods of not scoring followed by a series of goals scored. Coyle just never scores.
Zucker needs the setup man as we saw last night with Grandlund sneaking a pass thorough to the back door where Zucker was camped. He also needs the stretch pass, but teams are wary of this and they know when he’s on the ice they need to keep the puck below the blue line and give no opportunities, so he’s doing what he should but the D is wise to it. That doesn’t mean they’ll stop it all the time.
Are they just handcuffed with Coyle and can’t put him on the wing. There is no question his offense is better on wing.
What difference does it make? He doesn’t score from the wing either.
This line is totally hamstrong by Stonehands Coyle’s inability to find the net. There’s a lot to like about this Rau kid and Ek, I agree, has developed both speed and physical presence, but they need to unhook the Coyle plough they’re dragging behind them. Man, I wish we’d let Vegas have Coyle instead of Haula. Rau/Haula/Ek. Now THAT would be a line.
I know there’s a lot of Coyle fans here, but come on guys. How long do you guys want to wait for him to actually PRODUCE?
Here’s a Stat of Shame for you. All of our regular defensemen have as many OR MORE goals than Coyle has. Dumba has more than 2X the goals that Coyle produces.
#TradeCoyleNow
Grouse
in other Wild news Kaprizov made the Russia Olympic team, so we’ll be able to watch him and Greenway duke it out in their bracket…
Well, a decent shootout win for the Wild last night against Colombus. They didn’t look great, but they did keep up some solid play in the D zone. The first goal given up was a bit fluky but that’s why you shoot the puck.
The Jackets had us pinned in the zone a lot in the 3rd, but time after time we kept them on the outside against the boards with no good passing options between the dots. Really sold D in the third, that’s what kept us in it. The Wild are very hard to play right now, unless you’re a team like the Pens with just bottomless offensive firepower, it’s very, very hard to pull away from the Wild.
Coyle finally found the back of the net, so he’s on a hot streak now by his standards.
I thought the OT play was really solid. Bruce’s defense-first system continues to work and the Wild’s first objective has to be to NOT give up a goal to the opponents top line.
Key games coming up. Red hot Vegas Golden Knights are next, followed by a key matchup with the Texass Team Rustlers in what could be a battle to either tie up or take over the 4 spot in the Central.
Tuned in to some Eastern games recently and can somebody please tell me what is the Caps problem? I mean, obviously it’s Pittsburgh, but seriously with all that firepower, how can they manage year after year to not finally get it working in the playoffs?
Grouse
We got lucky to not lose in OT and AGAIN it was Koivu’s laziness that almost cost them again… WHY ON EARTH IS HE OUT THERE IN OT? As a captain, I find it ridiculous how lazy of a player he is, he was offside by 2 feet on a clear 2-1 rush, then gets booted on the faceoff with a terribly obvious infraction resulting in Spurgeon taking the draw and losing it cleanly resulting in Columbus getting an instant scoring chance rush only to get bailed out by a good Dubs save. How many OT losses do we have to endure before Bruce has the ball$ to keep him on the bench?
Positive’s are that Dubs looked good in the shootout and hopefully Stewart cemented his first 3 shootout position from now on…
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