TropicalFruitGirl26

I KNEW Middleton had it in him to be a prolific scorer!!

Yes, I've voiced my opinion on playoff format all over this site on various threads if it comes up: I prefer the Conference 1-8 seedings, with division winners being sat at 1 and 2. You get the better matchups as the playoffs go on (usually), like you said, more variety in match ups, and rivalries are born more naturally that way too, rather than the forced way the NHL tries to do it now.

Yes, @ClusterChuck as it stands now....Kraken would be at Dallas. Would be nice if Minnesota could win the division and avoid Colorado at least for the first round. They likely gotta get through them anyways if they want to get to the West Finals, but better to face first timers Seattle or the Jets in the first round rather than the defending champions.

Don't worry. Minnesota will get (K)rackin when they need to!

The Un-Johnny! He shaked, he baked, he looked off the defender, then deked the goal....oh, wait... EN. Ok, still counts. 2-0 Wild!

Ryan Hartman: "Just Stalock between us and the game winner? Hold my beer...." Just like in practice. Wild score the dagger goal. Just gotta lock it down for 60 seconds now.

Hate to say it, but that was a HELL of a deceiving snipe by Reichel to tie the game. Faked out both Spurgeon and Gustavsson and hit the far corner cleanly. Cmon boys, time to push, crash, and shoot once again for the lead!

Zucc truly has become a 'niche' player in his old age. What I mean is, when he was with the Rangers, coaches were constantly trying to get consistency out of him...but never could find the right linemate or linemates to elevate him. He gets to Minnesota (not counting Dallas because most of his time there I believe he was riddled with injury), and finds instant chemistry with Kap. Kaprizov is the kind of guy who makes his linemates better......Zuccarello, unfortunately, CAN be good, but is the type of player who needs another to get the best out of him. Kap would be fine without Zucc.... Zucc is NOT fine without Kap.

I suppose Zucc should be doing the enforcing then, eh? lol

Wild FINALLY remembered Stalock is NOT Crawford and put one past him! 1-0 Green Guys!

Sure. But I'd like the Wild to get the lead first before releasing the goons. lol

Worse. Zucc needs Kap.

Stalock facing down someone even shorter than he is... Mats Zuccarello!

A-hole move by Chicago's Jones...trying to get a piece of Boldy with his hip. I get it. Trying to irritate the young Wild player. Boldy bit on the bait, but, thankfully, it was the end of the period. Time for Boldy's veteran teammates to calm him down, remind him Jones is doing that because the Hawks think Boldy is a threat. Go get some hydration, young man. Come out firing next period!

Cmon, Wild....move puck, side to side in the offensive zone. Stalock will leave those big gaps in net....just like you remember

Kevin Gorg to Marcus Foligno: "You know how good Alex Stalock is....how do score on him???"

Haha... Young, green barely NHL'ers talking chit (Philly's Tyson Foerster) "They are lucky to be tied." While he isn't completely wrong, way to give the other team some fuel. Hope the Wild explode on the Flyers (in more ways than one), and then we can revisit that comment between periods from the wise ol Tyson Foerster.

Ristolainen scores. Disgusting.

Nope. He's in there. Would love to see Foligno or even Reaves punch him in the yap at some point....

John Tortorella teams can be maddeningly suffocating, can't they?

Wow.... MAF's goaltending style betray him there? He was prone well before the play was made. Either way, Wild need to play from behind now.

More than a few giveaways and/or turnovers by Jonas Brodin. Very unlike him. Hope that isn't an omen for this game. His game is usually more sound than that. Cmon, Jonas....get with the program.

MAF goaltending style: Haphazard. Crazy, goes against all goaltending school teachings, but works for him! I wonder how crazy he drives his defensemen though...

Hmm...he conveniently came down with the South African flu, eh? He was SOOO looking forward to facing Marcus Foligno...

I believe you are correct...he isn't on the box score. Soooo...that means Seeler has to take on the Wild by himself.