MN Wild 2019-2020 Official Thread

i’m still not sold on this team long term for this season…but they are playing night & day different from the first month.

I’ve noticed three things during this streak,

1 – Our opponents have not been playing well, this could be a mixture of them taking the Wild lightly or the Wild just playing better, but I’ve noticed so many lazy mistakes by the teams we’ve played against lately and we’ve finally started to capitalized on those errors.

2 – We are catching almost all of the breaks lately, from the No Goal call last night that should have counted, to Kucherov getting a direct rebound with an open net just as the period siren sounds before he can shoot. This could be karma for all of the puck luck we didn’t have the first month, but it has been noticeably in our favor lately…

3 – The goalies have stole a few games for a change…We really didn’t deserve several of these recent wins (Florida game as an example) but the goalies got us 2 points, something Doobs rarely did…

We need to see more play for Kaapo Kakhonen, if he keeps up this pace, we really have no need to keep Doobs around…His family situation might make trading him look like a terrible PR move though…

Tampa isnt playing up to their ability yet, but no doubt they will be there when it matters. That team is too stinking good to not be. They are seriously rattled by what happened last year and I think what is happening to them right now is the result of a Superbowl Runner-up curse of sorts. They were the President’s Cup champ by a landslide last year and get swept out in the first round last year. That is demoralizing. To top it off, the first game they were up 3-0 and blew it which ultimately led to their demise.

This Wild team is so dang fun to watch. Even Rask is playing well. Those bang bang bang passes on that third Wild goal was a treat to watch. These guys are gelling like I dont recall seeing them ever play.

I couldnt hear any of the play by play at all and wasnt watching the game super close since it was Bingo night at our friend’s bar, but I didnt see how Mennell looked much.

CaptainMusky wrote:

but I didnt see how Mennell looked much.

He didn’t play last night

Seeler took Spurgeon’s spot, Mennell is the 7th D right now…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

He didn’t play last night

Seeler took Spurgeon’s spot, Mennell is the 7th D right now…

That would explain it! LOL They have small tvs in their bar so it was really hard to see numbers, but I did notice Seeler seemed to have a decent game and Soucy, what a dang beast! Is he going to be the next Erik Karlsson? LOL

One thing that just pains me with this team and is a serious issue Billy needs to fix moving forward is our 4th line counts almost 9 MILLION against the cap!!!!

The 4th line should be all 1st contract guys willing to do whatever it takes just to stay in the NHL. It should max out at $3 million total tops if not 1/2 of that…The extra $6-$7 million saved could be used on a top line guy…

It’s a bit inflated with Rask’s contract this year, but we’ve always had a crazy expensive 4th line. That’s one major difference between our team and most of the top teams in the NHL, they put their money where it should be focused…

CaptainMusky wrote:

That would explain it! LOL They have small tvs in their bar so it was really hard to see numbers, but I did notice Seeler seemed to have a decent game and Soucy, what a dang beast! Is he going to be the next Erik Karlsson? LOL

Soucy is an enigma to me…he looks so clumsy out there on the ice yet he’s getting the job done and is showing alot more offensive skill then I ever knew he had…a pleasant surprise…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Soucy is an enigma to me…he looks so clumsy out there on the ice yet he’s getting the job done and is showing alot more offensive skill then I ever knew he had…a pleasant surprise…

He does remind me a bit like a giraffe on skates at times, but he skates pretty dang well for how big he is. Boudreau was just glowing about him in the post game and he was trying to be reserved. He basically said he was shocked at how well he has been playing. After last year’s preseason I wholeheartedly agree with him, but Soucy has definitely focused on his craft and greatly improved.

Giraffe on skates is a perfect analogy…

I’m really excited to see Mennell get into a game soon, I think he could turn into a steal for this franchise.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Giraffe on skates is a perfect analogy…

I’m really excited to see Mennell get into a game soon, I think he could turn into a steal for this franchise.

I did search for some highlights of him yesterday for a few minutes and all I found was a fight.

Sounds like a good story and he certainly has deserved a chance based on his play so far so it will be fun to see how he does.

I fully expected the Lightning to lose last night. It was the 1st game back from a one night road trip to Carolina. That and the Wild have some moxy right now.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

2 – We are catching almost all of the breaks lately, from the No Goal call last night that should have counted, to Kucherov getting a direct rebound with an open net just as the period siren sounds before he can shoot. This could be karma for all of the puck luck we didn’t have the first month, but it has been noticeably in our favor lately…

Really? I didn’t think it was a goal. At first I did but then I saw Cirelli’s leg move Stalocks before the puck had gotten to his pads.

I think part of the turnover’s last night was on Tampa, but I also think the Wild’s play led to some as well.

You see Kuch break his stick after the Staal slash? Man it bugs me when he loses it. It’s some of the same things that bug me about Spud Crosby, but Kuch generally always takes it out on his stick, except sometimes he does crap like he did to Fiala.

i can’t find a replay of that no-goal, but I saw it as the defender knocked him into the goalie and the puck was already sliding under his leg towards the goal line once contact was initiated.

I noticed several little “pissy” moments for Kucherov last night and have noticed it in other games I’ve watched of the Bolts, seems to happen alot when he is missed with a pass or tries a dangle that fails…

I did cringe though when Nanne reminded everyone that the Wild passed on him 2 times in the draft (Coyle and Philips)

The no-goal call had no effect on the outcome of the game. There was a penalty called on the play which would’ve been negated if the goal counted. The bolts scored on the ensuing power play anyway.

Personally I think it could’ve gone either way based on how goaltender interference is typically called when the offender is being checked on the play. It sure looked like he willfully tried to kick stalocks pad though.

Ok, I didn’t think about if he was pushed into the goalie.

mplspug wrote:

Ok, I didn’t think about if he was pushed into the goalie.

it would have been an iffy call either way, I was surprised that it didn’t at least go to video review though. It was funny in that our tv announcers were arguing about the possibility of a penalty shot and Lou Nanny shot back and said the Bolts should decline and take a powerplay and sure enough they score a ppg about 40 seconds into it. Surprised the Bolts didn’t challenge though, even if they lost the challenge it would have been 4on4 for 2 minutes and that’s an advantage to the Bolts.

mplspug wrote:

Ok, I didn’t think about if he was pushed into the goalie.

The push was actually a hook (called penalty) that kind of pulled him off course. Looked like he intentionally kicked at Stalock though.

biggill wrote:

The no-goal call had no effect on the outcome of the game. There was a penalty called on the play which would’ve been negated if the goal counted. The bolts scored on the ensuing power play anyway.

Personally I think it could’ve gone either way based on how goaltender interference is typically called when the offender is being checked on the play. It sure looked like he willfully tried to kick stalocks pad though.

Agreed 100%, it had no bearing on the game. And yes, he was hooked, not pushed into the goalie and it wasn’t much of a hook at that.

Boldy not even invited to USA WJC Hockey team tryouts… He’s still a young pup but that choice over Caufield could haunt this team…

I just watched the Koivu 1000 games pre game ceremony. Wow doe sit bring you back seeing those teammates.

I tell you another thing I realized, what a void and hole that will be to fill when he is done there. Not just on the ice, but he really is the Wild’s identity.

I wish we’d stop sending out Parise first in shootouts. 9/10 times we are 0-1 in shootouts because his cringy slow down, stick handle meaninglessly, then try five hole and get stoned approach.

Koivu is one of their best shoot out scorers. That backhand top shelf move is nasty to bad he can’t skate in alone 2 or 3 times during a game and use that shot. It’s about his only shoot out move and everyone knows it’s coming but can’t stop it.

Should be a good game against Edmonton tonight. Watching McDavid and Draisaitel is always fun.

Ice Cap wrote:

Koivu is one of their best shoot out scorers.

The first few years of the shootout maybe, but the past several years, he’s been terrible in the shootouts…something like only 2 goals scored in that time… I’m sure the Wild has shootout competitions at the end of practices and Parise & Koivu must still be the top finishers still otherwise why put them out there every time?

If tonight’s game goes to OT you’ll see a very different strategy employed by the Oilers, McDavid and Driasaitel play almost the entire 5 minutes, you’d think they would get tired and cause bad defensive goals against, but it’s been almost the complete opposite, they are pretty much unstoppable in OT.

Ice Cap wrote:

Should be a good game against Edmonton tonight. Watching McDavid and Draisaitel is always fun.

Did you see the clip of McDavid skating through 5 defenders and almost scoring? The entire rest of his line went off on a change. It was unreal.
Here are the 2 screen grabs, 1 frame apart. My Lord is he fun to watch.

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JoeMX1825 wrote:

If tonight’s game goes to OT you’ll see a very different strategy employed by the Oilers, McDavid and Driasaitel play almost the entire 5 minutes, you’d think they would get tired and cause bad defensive goals against, but it’s been almost the complete opposite, they are pretty much unstoppable in OT.

I would imagine teams can’t get the puck off their sticks.

Glad to see Mayhew back up with the club. He was a high energy guy and made some things happen when he was up earlier this year.

Well the Wild avoided the ot and snuck away with 2 points but they played really well. Soucy and Greenway both had great games and Zucker finally comes through on a break away. McDavid was throttled most of the game and came off the ice a -2. Walz pointed out how McDavid cheats a lot on the ice and can be taken advantage of when he is in the defensive zone and often times quits skating. But hey I’d still take him in a Wild jersey!

Great game by the Wild last night the boys are looking like a real NHL team.

Everyone will come back healthy just in time for a deep playoff run. Peaking at the right time is better than peaking to early, most women probably understand that vs most men. It would be fun to watch this team healthy and play up to their potential and prove everyone wrong except the socialistic party line non typical or typical tmsf Homer’s. Still confused on what a tmsf is. I’ll jump on the RS is awesome band wagon if he starts getting old man angry and starts hitting people.

GO WILD!

PS maybe Dubbie is tha locker room cancer lol.

It was a great game to watch. Greenway is becoming an absolute beast. If he could put a few more of his chances away he’d be one heckuva player. You can’t get him off the puck that’s for sure. Great to see him stick up for Kunin after Nurse went knee to knee with him. Kunin and Nurse were going at it all game and Greenway stepped in and ended it. He was close to getting his head knocked off in the fight but ended up leaving Nurse bloody. Pretty great to see. I wish we would see the Wild stick up for themselves more often.

I was listening to the game on the way to go climbing last night and arrived to my destination right after Edmonton tied it up 4-4, I would have never thought we would have pulled out the W.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Great to see him stick up for Kunin after Nurse went knee to knee with him. Kunin and Nurse were going at it all game and Greenway stepped in and ended it. He was close to getting his head knocked off in the fight but ended up leaving Nurse bloody. Pretty great to see. I wish we would see the Wild stick up for themselves more often.

Wish I would have seen that! Something that has been missing for the Wild for sure and I think there is little doubt it adds to the team chemistry!

mahtofire14 wrote:

It was a great game to watch. Greenway is becoming an absolute beast. If he could put a few more of his chances away he’d be one heckuva player. You can’t get him off the puck that’s for sure. Great to see him stick up for Kunin after Nurse went knee to knee with him. Kunin and Nurse were going at it all game and Greenway stepped in and ended it. He was close to getting his head knocked off in the fight but ended up leaving Nurse bloody. Pretty great to see. I wish we would see the Wild stick up for themselves more often.

X2!