lynxrattle

If down a goal, but not yet with a pulled goalie, perhaps play with three lines. KapZucBoldy worth experimenting, HartmanFialaGaudreau and Eek's line. I would not break Bdy-Fiala yet, if the situation is even.

If not for Matthews and Mrazek having a really good game, we could have got at least a point. Not enough from Hartman (faceoffs lost), Kap and Zucc.

Leafs win 4 - 2.

The Wild has enough problems as it is in not hating losing. We really don't need Ristolainen nor Giroux to add to the problems. What we need is players with even a fraction of the attitude of Bobby Clarke in the Summit series.

I'm also worried about the obvious playoffs need for being able to play with whoever is not injured. So far it looks like Kaprizov and Zuccarello are a lot less efficient without the other, and Fiala has trouble finding chemistry without Boldy. It's great we have these two dynamic duos, but why is it that they don't seem to be able to form other duos when one of them is injured?

To quote Yeo's favourite line the "execution" was off. I bet the reason was the same as it was back then. If you worry about getting hit you are not that sharp. The team should be concentrating on hitting the opponent instead of thinking about getting hit. Gigi Marvin talked about "opposing our will on the opponent". I think Gigi has way more grit than too many of our players.

If the Sens have watched the Jets play us, they might win. But that team is such a wreck, that I doubt they have. 6 - 2 Wild win.

Incredible start. He sees the offensive side ice like a 35 year old vet.

Excellent playing. This is how one manages the rest of the season, while playing weaker teams. End the fight in the first 10 - 15 minutes. After the game is over, there will be less fighting for the puck, less hitting, less injuries, less fatigue. We need everyone as healthy and energetic as possible.

That's a very good post, IMO. It got me thinking about our chances. What if we could get a d-man with half of Byfuglien's grit, never mind the offense he had, just the gritty defending? What if we could get a player who really hates losing? Like JT Miller? With a little bit of luck and a lots of hate towards losing, we might have a chance of even a better run than 2003. We have defensive prospects coming along, maybe we could trade one or two.

I'm expecting the team to start like they started against FLA. Very fast, aggressive, fighting for the puck. If they do that, the Oilers don't have the toughness needed, and no Bobrovsky in goal. 5 - 3 Wild win.

We would be needing some nasty. Preferably I'd prefer Sturm and Bjugstad finding and releasing their inner demons, but I doubt the organisation can arrange a boot camp for them. I hate to see the Wild needing to keep looking for the sandpaper. We should be drafting some players who could into those roles.

I can see the need to help Fiala and Boldy, but at the same time Rossi looked not ready at all when he was playing for the Wild. I'd prefer waiting until he looks ready in the AHL. I haven't seen his playing in the AHL, though, so I wouldn't know if he's playing better. He looked too weak to me to really compete. Can you imagine him playing against the Jets? I'd say let him get stronger - hopefully Kaprizov strong - and then he'll be good.

Luukkonen looks good to me as well. It's going to be interesting to see what the Blues do with Husso. Husso's outplayed Binnington this season, but Binnington was a big reason for the cup. A tough choice between them.

The Wild needs to think about the money first. Schenn sounds like risk we could live with.

Well, schooled by the Cats and by the Jets. We need better goal tending and better defending, maybe more sandpaper in the top lines (they played aggressive enough against the Cats, but not against the Jets). We're not there yet is the message to Guerin. Hopefully Leipold agrees. We don't need Guerin going Fletcher at the trade dead line. Just keep developing piece by piece.

A good article that Abbott piece. We have a lot to prove. And the performance against the Jets might be indicative of what our chances in the playoffs really are. I still feel we might win the Cats. They are content playing a skillful and speedy game. We can hang with that kind of play. 4-3 OT win for the Wild.

Schenn's cheap

This was a major disappointment ☹ Minnesota nice. Being reserved, mild-mannered and passive-aggressive. An aversion to open confrontation, a tendency toward understatement, a disinclination to make a direct fuss or stand out, emotional restraint, and self-deprecation. This team will never get anywhere if this Minnesota nice behaviour doesn't stop. The playoffs are NOT about being able to cope with the other team's aggression. It's about being MORE aggressive. It's about trying to dominate the other team through your physical and mental strengths and winning the fights that follow. This game was lost at the moment Dillon boarded Boldy. No penalty was called. No fights or boardings by the Wild followed. Nothing was done to try to subdue the Jets or influence the refs. The domination game was lost there, and surprise surprise the whole team played the game neutered. You can't have a team playing the domination part of hockey in a lame passive aggressive way, and expect them to play the defense/offense/speed parts of hockey with vigour. It's fight or flight. There is no in-between.

Slafkovsky was very good against Finland too. That guy could become quite a player when he's ready to make it in the NHL.

Thanks MNSOTA for the preview, and especially the St.Urho's day part. That is such a crazy tradition! I didn't have a clue there is one like that. I feel this game against the Jets is the most important game yet this season. Guerin needs to know if the team can succeed when the game is played with playoffs rules. If it looks good but the top lines are too soft we might need a JT Miller kind of player added. And if they don't succeed at all when playing in a big boy hockey environment, Guerin just needs to wait and keep developing the team patiently. This game might be a rough one. I think the Wild might be annoyed enough to just roll over them. At least they should be. Wild win 5 - 2.

Marvellous

What a wild game! Boldy breaking rookie records even Kap could not break

Getting better. I will still have to wait for the day Finland wins one of the big two.

Beautiful necklaces My prediction on the game: 5 - 2 Wild win.