CreaseAndAssist

Power Play Lifts Wild to 3-0 Game 1 Win Over Vancouver Pretty good effort and it started with a fight that got the team's energy level going. Then they struck early on the power play and were not chasing the game. Minnesota didn't give the Canucks a lot of time and space just about anywhere and Stalock made the saves to stymie any momentum the Canucks tried to generate. Great effort and a big win to start the series. The team stayed out of the shenanigans and let the power play do the talking tonight. Enjoy the game recap!

The sick thing is, if the Wild are to throw him big money...he damn well better put up those kinds of production. With how late the signing took place in his career, I think the Wild would be wise in being cautious.

Colorado wasn't attacking as hard. He still had some fumbles with the puck and at times I saw him struggling to track the puck moving around the ice. IMO, keeping him as the backup is a sign the country club is still in effect with this Wild team, sadly.

I was talking to @MNSOTA if Kaprizov has 40-ish point season, how much do you offer him? Or if he has a lousy year, how much term do you want to give him? Unlike most 'young' prospects, Kaprizov will be 24 years old by the time you are going to be negotiating this contract. IMO, it would be pretty risky to pay him big time money unless he kind of performs that way out of the gate.

Check that, 8:45PM CST for Game 2, and 8:00PM CST for Game 1. Did the Wild's play during the scrimmage make you more or less confident?

I think 50 points is pretty damn optimistic. Not saying you're way off; the 100 point prediction is obviously ridiculous.

The Seattle Kraken have already be placed into an NHL '94 Rom, that's all I needed to hear. I wish they were more seafoam and blue color scheme, but the logo and the name are great. I don't think they'll get the haul Vegas did because teams will just part with the one player and not give them a bunch of additional assets. But they will still end up with a fairly competitive team out of the gate in comparison to the early 2000's expansion teams. Now we just got to move an Eastern Conference team back to Quebec...

(shrugs) We shall see. KHL teams quality varies greatly. I've heard it described as some clubs are almost NHL quality, while others are ECHL-level quaity.

Game 2 starts at 9:45PM...because we were all hoping it would start a bit later, right?

I agree 100%. Dubnyk looked the same in the scrimmage as he did during the season. Sub-par. But I heard he's going to split time with Stalock today against Colorado. Not sure why...

Did you guys hear the rube on Judd Zulgad's show who predicted Kaprizov would score 100 points next season and win the Calder trophy?

Addison wasn't as noticeable in the 2nd scrimmage as he was during the 1st one. I thought Menell and Belpedio stood out a lot more. Still, Addison looks like he certainly has some intriguing talent.

Kaapo Kahkonen is making the Wild's playoff goaltending decision tougher I thought Kahkonen looked great again today at the Wild's scrimmage. I realize he played just two periods (and OT) total in the two scrimmages but he's looked as sharp as anyone. I give my thoughts on what that could mean for the team heading into its play in series against Vancouver as well as how it could mean for the future of a certain veteran goalie. Enjoy and discuss.

I guess I should've made a Seattle Related card...here you go. Enjoy.

I guess Ivan Lodnia is also playing in the KHL next year too; on loan to play for Dinamo Minsk. I think its a foolish move on his part; he must've felt either he wanted to make money sooner or that the lineup in Iowa is a bit crowded. I was intrigued seeing him play on a line with Connor Dewar and Brandon Duhaime but now that won't happen. Also, the Iowa Wild signed back Mitch McLain too.

Pateryn being out is a non story. He is slow and terrible. Besides, Carson Soucy is back. I dont think Addison will get a chance in the playoffs but he's looking like a real interesting young player who was playing the game with a lot of confidence out there.

2019-20 Minnesota Wild Season Fun With Magic: the Gathering Cards I decided to add a bit of fun and levity before the start of the play in series. I hope you find these cards to be a fun way to look at the season. Enjoy and discuss!

Did anyone watch the scrimmage on Saturday? Fiala looked great, as did Greenway, Addison, Menell, Brodin and Spurgeon. Kahkonen only played in the 3rd period but he was the only goalie not to give up a goal. Kahkonen's team was down 3-1 going into the 3rd period. Mat Robson gave up 3 goals to lose the scrimmage 4-3 in OT. Stalock looked reasonable, Dubnyk was fighting it...

IMO, experience doesn't matter here between the pipes. Its about who seems to be stopping more pucks. If Dubnyk is back in the crease, it better be because he performed better at training camp and in exhibition play. But if he's back in the crease simply because of 'experience' then I think its wrong. I think Alex Stalock outperformed Devan Dubnyk this season, not just in wins but in terms of save percentage too. As good as Kahkonen was for Iowa, it AHL numbers. Its a shame we will never know how far he could've taken Iowa this year.

They were playing a lot better and Fiala was on fire. I agree with you, if that iron was still hot I'd be feeling far more confident about this series. But I just think its tougher to get older legs to re-establish themselves for this series.

Fair enough..how far do you think the team will go?

The Minnesota Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov to a 2-year deal I provide some thoughts and analysis to Kaprizov's signing with the Minnesota Wild and what role he'll play (albeit at practice). Check it out and discuss!

I would also recommend this be the 'game day' post for Game 1 of the series since the stats are not going to change and it has the full schedule, projected lines, etc.

The way Brackett left Vancouver has me a bit concerned. It sounds like he wanted complete autonomy to draft who he wanted in Vancouver and the Canucks GM Jim Benning said no...so they decided to part ways. He may have a decent track record as a talent evaluator but I can't see Bill Guerin just giving Brackett that autonomy here. The team certainly is re-shaping its scouting department as it should because we've seen a whole lot of the same kinds of 'safe' players being drafted by the same people. Out so far Yopyk Vargas In Brackett Murray? But the last I heard, P.J. Fenton has been reduced in role to being just an amateur scout which is more appropriate for his experience level. While its encouraging to see some fresh blood in the scouting department, we'll see what this guy does.

Wild vs. Canucks Play In Series Preview Minnesota Wild (35-27-7) 77pts 6th in the Central 3.16 Goals For Per Game (12th in the NHL) 3.14 Goals Against Per Game (24th in the NHL) 21.3% Power Play (11th in the NHL) 77.2% Penalty Kill (25th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #22 Kevin Fiala ~ 23G 31A = 54pts 2. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 8G 40A = 48pts 3. #12 Eric Staal ~ 19G 28A = 47pts 4. #11 Zach Parise ~ 25G 21A = 46pts 5. #36 Mats Zuccarello ~ 15G 22A = 37pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #38 Ryan Hartman ~ 69 PIM’s 2. #19 Luke Kunin ~ 55 PIM’s 3. #18 Jordan Greenway ~ 54 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #32 Alex Stalock (20-11-4) 2.67GAA .910%SP 4SO 2. #40 Devan Dubnyk (12-15-2) 3.35GAA .890%SP 1SO 3. #31 Kaapo Kahkonen (3-1-0) 2.96GAA .913%SP Vs. Vancouver Canucks (36-27-6) 78pts 4th in the Pacific 3.25 Goals For Per Game (8th in the NHL) 3.10 Goals Against Per Game (20th in the NHL) 24.1% Power Play (4th in the NHL) 80.5% Penalty Kill (16th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #9 J.T. Miller ~ 27G 45A = 72pts 2. #40 Elias Pettersson ~ 27G 39A = 66pts 3. #53 Bo Horvat ~ 22G 31A = 53pts 4. #43 Quinn Hughes ~ 8G 45A = 53pts 5. #70 Tanner Pearson ~ 21G 24A = 45pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #23 Alexander Edler ~ 62 PIM’s 2. #57 Tyler Myers ~ 49 PIM’s 3. #9 J.T. Miller ~ 47 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #25 Jacob Markstrom (23-16-4) 2.75GAA .918%SP 2SO 2. #35 Thatcher Demko (13-10-2) 3.06GAA .905%SP 3. #30 Louis Domingue (3-9-2) 3.81GAA .882%SP Here is your preview for the play in series between the Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks. This match up looks pretty even when you look at it statistically but there are some significant differences between these two clubs. So the preview examines both clubs, looks for strengths and weaknesses of both teams and we chime in with our series predictions as well. Training camps should be in full swing this week. Enjoy and discuss...