Alexandron

Michael Russo @RussoHockey May 1 Filip Gustavsson says he surprised himself with his superb regular season. Felt he was good in Game 1, but “average” the rest of the series. He felt he wasn’t a “difference maker,” let in some bad goals on PK. As for contract, he just told hus agent to call him when it’s done. How he could be a difference maker if the team practically didn't produce the last 3 games of the series? First 3 games we placed 11 goals (scores were 3:2; 3:7; 5:1) and the last 3 games we placed only 3 goals vs Dallas 11 goals (scores were 2:3; 0:4; 1:4). Total we placed 14 goals vs their 21. Huge difference. During the last 2 games both 4th goals were ENG on our net. Gustavsson was able to hold score for us from 1 to 3 goals per game and in general, he was pretty consistent goalie as during the regular season as well as during playoffs season. Hope that BG will be able to sign him. Regarding Fleury, Russo placed his dialog: Michael Russo @RussoHockey May 1 Fleury: “I’m tired of moving. I’m not going anywhere,” even if his role next season with #mnwild is more backup than 1A/1B." And I am fine with that. In comparison to our production, I took the scores between Panthers and Bruins series (1:3; 6:3; 2:4;2:6; 4:3; 7:5; 4:3). Total Panthers placed 26 goals vs Boston's 27, but the main difference in production was made in their last 3 games: Panther's 15 goals vs Boston's 11 goals.

Michael Russo on injury reports: @RussoHockey Gaudreau will need surgery for an abdominal issue that’s been going on for 4 months, Guerin says. Zuccarello had a groin injury. Eriksson Ek confirms our report that he had surgery after Game 3 for a broken fibula. Ryan Hartman was playing with a knee injury sustained in overtime of Game 1. As of now, he says, he doesn’t need surgery. Will know later this offseason. Kaprizov says he knows he didn’t look his normal self in the playoffs, but he said it’s because he missed a month and couldn’t get in a rhythm. He said his injury was completely healed and he felt fine health-wise.

Some info from Russo: Michael Russo @RussoHockey 4h It’s telling the Game 4 refs from #mnwild series don’t move on, including the respected vet Pollock. Was told league felt the penalties on Foligno that caused 1-0 and 3-1 deficits were bad calls. Scouting The Refs @ScoutingTheRefs 5h The National Hockey League has named the NHL Referees and Linesmen advancing to the Conference Quarterfinals (Round 2) of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. https://scoutingtherefs.com/2023/05/38967/nhl-referees-and-linesmen-for-round-2-of-the-2023-stanley-cup-playoffs/ Michael Russo @RussoHockey 2h #mnwild re-sign Marcus Johansson to a 2-year, $4 million deal. Now about $8.1M in space this summer. Michael Russo @RussoHockey 1h Guerin says he’s evaluating the staff. Didn’t commit that all members of assistant coaching staff will be back.

I will be rooting for Oilers too. I was shocked after Boston elimination in round#1 with 3 losses in a row from Panthers. President Trophy team with the most wins (65) and 135 points during the regular season in NHL history Bruins were not able to pass round#1. I have heard from many Boston fans on YouTube "we do not need any President Trophy forever if the team is not able to play playoffs hockey". And Kraken was able to eliminate last year Stanley Cup winner Avalanche in round#1 too. Two bottom teams in both Conferences were able to beat 2 top teams. Playoffs is already full of surprises.

Great player and a star player are different concepts. McDavid is a star. Boldy is not. Cooper(Lightning coach) since 2013 till now was able to bring the team with different players to 4 Stanley Cup finals in 2015;2020;2021 and 2022. Won 2 in 2020 and 2021. Boudreau(Capitals coach) was not able to pass the team full of stars through round#1 and/or #2 for years. Then Trotz with the team won a Stanley Cup in 2018. Right after getting the cup, the owner didn't want to extend contract with Trotz. Since that time team was not able to pass round#1 and this year missed playoffs despite of replacing few coaches. Great team, star players but missing the right coach.

Agree, it is a time to fire him. 5 years already he is working for this team. Great coach can transform good players into the great one.

As you know I am working in a medical field for almost 46 years. During surgical operation most surgeons prefer to listen some music. For the first time last Friday we were listen entire Wild game on a radio. Surgery was successful, but the Wild game was not. For the last 2 decades during playoffs we always struggle to produce goals, especially during PP. These series after game#3 we placed from 0-2 goals per game which was not enough for the win. It seems system is wrong for all previous coaches. It is a time to replace this one too. I just looked for Evason resume. He is here since 2018 and started as assistant coach. Since February 2020 he was interim Wild coach , and since July 2020 he is as a Head Wild coach. 3 times with him as a coach we were not able to pass even 1 playoffs round. It is a time to replace him. He was good but not enough to progress the Wild success farther. I am thinking maybe Penguins coach is available yet? Then we will see more Russian star players for this team who will be able to bring us to a Stanley Cup finals during our life time. Every team has Russian players who are making an impact to team's success. Dadonov helped to Dallas Stars, Kostin to Oilers, Samsonov to Toronto Maple Leafs to pass round#1 this playoffs. Wild has now 7 players from Sweden, then we should add at least Russian speaking 4-5 players to make the difference in our success. And the system should be more offensively minded like Edmonton, Toronto, Boston and Colorado have.

Anyway of the result tonight (win or loss) I would like to say that this version of the team I liked the most in the last 15 years especially after adding Johansson, Nyquist, Klingberg, Gustavsson who have a real talent.

Hope the game will look like a playoffs game but not a regular season game which we were able to see last game since Foligno major penalty. Not sure if I will have a chance to see this game because of my work late evening, but still hope for the win at least in OT.

In a last 4 games we had plenty grade A chances but were not able to cash it. An average shots for both teams during those games were 24-27 shots per game. They were more lucky. Unfortunately, from my observation, Suter was able completely to destroy Kaprizov during these series who completely did not recover from the previous injury by Logan Stanley. Where was Suter before against other stars when he played for our team? I am glad Jets were eliminated from playoffs by the Vegas help, which punished Logan Stanley as well.

Yesterday, after the Wild playoffs game#5, I was listening post game show. One of the questions was regarding Iowa Wild team and why coaching staff was fired so fast. The answer was a blame on coach. He was malicious, very heavy on prospects, and organizing meetings after meetings, meetings after meetings which players were not able to resist. Interesting, I was talking about to fire him at least 3 seasons ago because of his strange decisions regarding prospects training and who was having priority to play and who was not. So many previously high scoring prospects became invisible through his system of training.

I am listening now post game show. They are talking about the same thing. And also they said about Evason weak future who was not able to fix our poor PP and PK 2 playoffs seasons in a row. But I was not agree with them at all regarding Gustavsson. He is zero guilty with all our poor production and who kept us with minimal score all games. With Fleury in net we would have at least 7 goals on our net tonight after their multiple grade A shots. No doubt Dallas was better in any lines that game.

Wild is not able to show anything now. Kind of a boring game so far. We should put at least one goal. I think we realize that game is over.

He did.

I think Gus did in game#1 when we won in OT2.

Did you see how Suter hit Kaprizov in the face? And then hit into the body.

Very professional.

Like I said before, we need at least 4-5 Russian speaking players to develop a team around them. Then Kaprizov will have an interest to stay here and will be able to communicate easily with them. Then we will have more success like Red Wings had, Lightning, Capitals, St. Louis in the past. I was surprise. Few times they showed Evason face. He didn't look sad or upset. Probably, he understands that is all for his career at this club - one more game loss and he will be done here.

No luck again with our PP.

Our 17 shots vs their 17 shots on goal so far.

Unfortunately, Oettinger stopped them all.

Klingberg is having nice shots.

Time to score on Suter penalty.

Me too.