CreaseAndAssist Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Wild vs. Avalanche Game Preview Minnesota Wild (22-10-2) 46pts 4th in the Central 3.68 Goals For Per Game (3rd in the NHL) 3.03 Goals Against Per Game (20th in the NHL) 17.3% Power Play (23rd in the NHL) 80% Penalty Kill (16th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #97 Kirill Kaprizov ~ 14G 28A = 42pts 2. #38 Ryan Hartman ~ 16G 14A = 30pts 3. #36 Mats Zuccarello ~ 11G 19A = 30pts 4. #22 Kevin Fiala ~ 8G 16A = 24pts 5. #17 Marcus Foligno ~ 14G 9A = 23pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #17 Marcus Foligno ~ 55 PIM’s 2. #21 Brandon Duhaime ~ 49 PIM’s 3. #38 Ryan Hartman ~ 31 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #34 Kaapo Kahkonen (7-2-1) 2.56GAA .917%SP 2. #35 Andrew Hammond N/A Vs. Colorado Avalanche (24-8-3) 51pts 1st in the Central 4.29 Goals For Per Game (1st in the NHL) 3.20 Goals Against Per Game (21st in the NHL) 23.5% Power Play (9th in the NHL) 73.6% Penalty Kill (29th in the NHL) Top 5 Scorers: 1. #91 Nazem Kadri ~ 14G 35A = 49pts 2. #98 Mikko Rantanen ~ 19G 25A = 44pts 3. #27 Nathan MacKinnon ~ 8G 30A = 38pts 4. #8 Cale Makar ~ 16G 20A = 36pts 5. #92 Gabriel Landeskog ~ 14G 22A = 36pts Top 3 PIM’s: 1. #92 Gabriel Landeskog ~ 49 PIM’s 2. #91 Nazem Kadri ~ 36 PIM’s 3. #56 Kurtis MacDermid ~ 32 PIM’s Top Goaltenders: 1. #35 Darcy Kuemper (17-5-0) 2.74GAA .908%SP 1SO 2. #39 Pavel Francouz (3-1-0) 2.88GAA .895%SP I wrote up the game preview for today. @MNSOTAwill have the post gamer this late afternoon and it will be full of extras. This is going to be a big challenge. The Wild return Alex Goligoski to the lineup, but we're facing an Avalanche team that is firing on all cylinders. I am hoping that having a faster 4th line will help us match up better against Colorado who is maybe one of the fastest teams in the league. It should be a pretty good tilt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynxrattle Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 We have a good team, but we might be playing against a team that is over our heads. Our chances are based on their d being worse than the offense, their goalie being inconsistent and like C&A wrote staying off puckwatching. We need to play in their zone. Still, I have to go with an Avs win. 5 - 2 for them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icechipper Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 I'll go Wild 3-2 in OT..... Rask seems to have worked his way into lineup. Demonstrates need for depth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClusterChuck Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Thinking back on how the games vs the Habs and B's were going to be tough, I now think this game will be the toughest of the bunch. Would love to get at least a point here tho. Lynxrattle's perdiction could be spot on but for fun I'll go Wild win 5-4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildstars95 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 1 point would be acceptable today ...I like to think a khackonen out trumps a keumper 4-3 ot wild 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Kahkonen has better overall numbers than Kuemper. Granted, it's in about half the games, but still... Darcy has been anything but "super" for the Avs this season. If the Wild can put lots of pucks towards Kuemper, he can be beat. Avs' defense, while dangerous WITH the puck, seems pretty ordinary without it. Let's go Wild! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Way too early, but Wild so far doing a very good job hounding Avs players when they have the puck. Hartman got in there pretty quickly taking advantage of the ordinary Colorado defense. Kuemper had to come up with a nice one to keep Minnesota off the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptyShelf Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Fiala now has Boldy, but they need to move Gaudreau to line 4. He adds nothing, particularly against a skilled team like the Avs, where skill matters a great deal. I would have love to see Rossi produce while up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown guy Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 What a save 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbgarnett Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 KK!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Kaapo! Big stop on MacK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptyShelf Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Kahk STONES McK one-on-one. I think it is clear that Kahk is a MUCH better player when he has regular playing time 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptyShelf Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 The Wild brain-trust had better learn how to rotate goalies better to maximize sharpness and focus, as with Wallstedt coming up in a year or two (19 Games, 1.90 GPA and .920 Save%), they cannot let the future 'rot on the bench' until their primary goalie gets hurt, sick, or the performance wanes and they make a change out of necessity. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Minnesota bending, but not breaking. They need to regain their composure though. Posts have been friendly to Kaapo so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmptyShelf Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 2 very helpful pieces of iron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey-78 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Man the Avs are lightning fast, every line. The Wild, not. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Kaprizov demonstrating just now that the Avalanche defense CAN be pressured into mistakes. Again...pretty ordinary group when they have to defend. Eric Johnson is a NASTY hitter however.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClusterChuck Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Good to see 5 on 5. Our best chance for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown guy Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Just now, ClusterChuck said: Good to see 5 on 5. Our best chance for sure. Exactly. It’s a must to be disciplined today 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hockey-78 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 9 minutes ago, EmptyShelf said: The Wild brain-trust had better learn how to rotate goalies better to maximize sharpness and focus, as with Wallstedt coming up in a year or two (19 Games, 1.90 GPA and .920 Save%), they cannot let the future 'rot on the bench' until their primary goalie gets hurt, sick, or the performance wanes and they make a change out of necessity. They've already let Kahkonen rot for ages, why not Wallstedt too... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown guy Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Have the Wild worn their North Star colored jerseys this season yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClusterChuck Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 3 minutes ago, Hockey-78 said: Man the Avs are lightning fast, every line. The Wild, not. Our passing being off is slowing us down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbgarnett Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 3 minutes ago, Jimtown guy said: Have the Wild worn their North Star colored jerseys this season yet? I don't think so but if they have it's only been like once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbgarnett Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Come on guys can't be giving them any PP's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown guy Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Now they are in trouble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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