Round 2: #3 (C) Chicago vs. WC #1 (C) Minnesota

[pilldoc]

All playoff discussion between the Hawks and Wild go here...............

 

Gonna be a heck of series.

 

Think I'm gonna keep pulling for the underdog here.  Dubnyk helped me win our Fantasy League..lets see if he continue this magical run into the 2nd round.

 

Wild in 7.

 

(PS..don't give me grief...yes I know the bottom logo has 2014 .. )

 

[yave1964]

Blackhawks have owned the Wild, they are their....Um, word that rhymes with itch. If Dubnyk doesnt turn into a pumkin they could keep it close but I see the Hawks winning.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Wild-Hawks III

 

Minnesota was vastly overmatched in their first meeting two seasons ago....last year, things were much closer, Wild played them tough and with some fortune (and minus Patrick Kane) maybe the Wild beat them....

 

This year? Much improved Wild team, not just in goal, but in the young core (Granlund, Coyle, Dumba, Brodin, Niedderreiter, Scandella) meanwhile, Chicago, while still good hasn't seen as dramatic improvements (some say they've taken a step or two backwards), may have some questions in goal, and are without Patrick Kane.

 

Boy do I like Minnesota's chances this year!

 

My official bracket on NHL.com has the Hawks breaking Minny hearts once again.....but for this thread's exercise, I am saying Wild in 6 because, well, I just like the way this team has pulled together even after the naysayers were going on about how the Blues were gonna smash them.

[jammer2]

@TropicalFruitGirl26  I have the Wild in 6 also.....better goalie, better defensive system, slightly faster, hit harder.....experience edge goes to the Hawks of course, but Crawford/Darling is not as good as Dubber.....that will be the difference.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

The Minnesota Wild.

 

Rollercoaster game. The team looked very pedestrian the 1st period (ended up down 3-0), outstanding the 2nd (tied things at 3), but when all was said n done, it was the 4th Blackhawk goal that did in the Wild.

Not the start I would have liked for the Wild, but it's only Game 1, and I HAVE to believe they come out better prepared in Game 2. A little more 'ready n rarin to go' in Game 1 for them, and maybe the Hawks don't build up an almost immediate 3 goal lead.

Looking towards Sunday, they still have a shot to steal a road win......Let's get WILD!

[jammer2]

@pilldoc  Where did you find that pic?  One of the coolest things I've seen in a while.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Game 2 at United Center, 8:30 pm EST / 7:30 Central.

 

Wild pretty much need to start playing from the opening puck drop till the final horn.

For whatever reason, it just seemed like the Hawks were ready to go in Game 1 right away, while it took the Wild an entire period to get things in gear and stage their comeback.

 

That is simply NOT acceptable.

I think the Wild realize this and will make the necessary corrections.

Also, better puck management as well as better use of team speed will serve Minnesota in Game 2.

 

Granted, the Wild won't be able to skate circles around the Hawks like they did the Blues, due to the Hawks having damned good overall team speed themselves, but Minnesota definitely didn't get the most of their speed in Game 1 and will need to do so in Game 2.

 

Maybe a bit of 'change of pace' in-game for the Wild?

Start out with a dump n chase forecheck style, then once the Hawks are conditioned to that, switch up to a up-temp puck carrying style, maybe a few stretch passes if Chicago tries covering man for man?

 

Hawks have last change at home, so the Wild worrying about match ups is moot. All they can really do is use what they have and MAKE the Hawks cover flawlessly.

This means, of course, the Wild have to execute flawlessly.

No stupid blind passing, no mishandling pucks in their own end, and certainly no blue line turnovers that leave Devan Dubnyk hung out to dry.

 

Basically mistake free hockey and FAST hockey, if the Wild hope to even this series.

Chicago goaltending has shown some cracks in their armor....but if the Wild aren't quick and smart, they won't be in positions to take advantage of it.

 

Also, for tonight's game, as per Twin Cities.com:

 

http://www.twincities.com/wild/ci_28036702/wild-justin-fontaine-knocked-out-game-2?source=pkg

 

The Wild will be without Justin Fontaine, a 4th line regular and penalty killer...he is out with the nebulous "lower body injury".

Coach Mike Yeo hasn't announced a replacement, but he has options.

Ryan Carter, Sean Bergenheim, Jordan Schroeder, and Erik Haula are all replacement options.

 

Personally, I wouldn't mind TWO of those guys in (Carter and Bergenheim) replacing Fontaine and Matt Cooke.

Carter can play the experienced, tough, checking role for Cooke, who IMO, has been mostly a non factor in the playoffs so far.

 

Bergenheim can be just as fast as Fontaine, maybe even with a bit more of a scoring touch, but definitely tenacious.

Hey, Wild...you traded for this guy because he has a nose for the puck.....use him out there!

 

Go Wild!

[hf101]

The Wild need a stellar performance tonight by Dubnyk and they should get a boost in front of their home fans. 

 

They will also need to fix some of their mistakes and for their best players to step up their game.  The Wild can't pay the fast finesse game the Hawks play.  They need to bang in a few dirty goals useing their speed and sound passing to control the puck more in the offensive zone.   Get those big forwards in front of the net with shots on net from the defense. 

 

Let's make this a series and win the next 2 at home.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

A slow start in Game 1, followed by a comeback that fell short due to a wonky goal...

 

Then seemingly just a step behind Chicago almost the whole game in Game 2 ....though the Wild DID get quite a few chances.

 

Minnesota finds themselves down 0-2 after all that.

The Blackhawks haven't really done ANYTHING that would lead me to say "Wow, they blew us away!"....but then again, that is what Chicago can do, can't they?

Do just enough, take advantage of every opportunity so that in the end, you are looking at the wrong end of the scoreboard while they walk away with another win.

 

It's pretty simple for the Wild:

The Hawks and Crawford WILL give you chances....you gotta take advantage of them.

Whether that's PP, breakdowns in coverage, or the goalie not quite reading a play right....the chances will be there.

As always, the Wild finish plays, they win......if they don't, the scoreboard will surely reflect that.

 

Mistake free hockey as well.

If it isn't apparent by now to anyone watching Chicago play, well, let me say....their star players have an extra gear for the post season.

One or two screw ups is all they need to put one past Minnesota's goaltender.

 

The Wild need to play 'their game' (fast transition offense, tough checking layered defense) and play it CORRECTLY!

Bottom line.

 

Home ice affords the Wild last change for Game 3, though to be honest, outside of the actual frenzied environment, I am not sure how much "matching" will help the Wild.

It's more about opportunities taken or missed and execution as far as I am concerned.

 

Go Wild!

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

The Minnesota Wild will be without forward Chris Stewart for Game 3 against the Blackhawks in St. Paul tonight.

From NHL.com

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=39567&navid=nhl:topheads

 

Stewart went in hard against the boards when he was taken down by Chicago's Johnny Oduya.

Chris did come out to play some shifts after that, but apparently, was not in prime condition to play tonight.

 

No word on who will take his spot on the roster, but the opinion of some observers seems to be that it will be Jordan Schroeder.

 

Hmmm...Sean Bergenheim riding the pine again perhaps?

Not sure why the Wild traded for him then not play him in the post season......yet guys like Matt Cooke continue to play.

 

IMO, Chris Stewart won't be as missed against the Blackhawks. He was far more valuable against a heavy team like the Blues, but has looked quite pedestrian against a speed and skill team like Chicago.

Matt Cooke is another who hasn't looked particularly good against the Hawks.

 

I am ok with Schroeder coming in for Stewart.....but I'd also put Sean Bergenheim in place of Cooke, as Bergenheim is faster to the puck, can agitate just a bit himself, checks reasonably well, and most importantly, I feel can keep up with the Hawks' skaters much better than Cooke can.

[jammer2]

I am ok with Schroeder coming in for Stewart.....but I'd also put Sean Bergenheim in place of Cooke, as Bergenheim is faster to the puck, can agitate just a bit himself, checks reasonably well, and most importantly, I feel can keep up with the Hawks' skaters much better than Cooke can.

 

 Totally agree, they have to get Cooke out of that line-up....he's so slow he's killing the forecheck...and what little offense his line musters, he's always going off side cause he can't keep up. At this point in his career, he's useless.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Well, Minnesota Wild...THIS is a fine mess you've gotten us into......

 

Hmmm....where is my box of cliches....?

Ahh, here it is....underneath the pile of Unbelievable Stares I accumulated watching this series....

 

"...one game at a time..."

"...it's not over till the fourth game is won..."

"....win one shift, one period at a time...."

"....we haven't lost till they've won..."

 

Oh, I am sure there are tons more...

 

Minnesota improves every year since entering the playoffs again two seasons ago...and each time it looks like they are edging closer to their nemesis, Chicago.

THIS was supposed to be the season where either the Wild finally get it done against the Hawks, or, if they lost again, would make it such, so that Chicago BARELY escaped with their playoff hides intact.

 

Things weren't supposed to end like this.

Not in 4, not in 5....and certainly NOT looking like they are a newbie playoff team all over again just happy to have made it in.

 

I realize that the Hawks are perennial favorites and that they have guys who have extra playoff gears.

But the bottom line is, Minnesota looks like they have taken a step or two BACKWARDS with regards to their compete level against them.

 

Whatever it is that Chicago has that Minnesota doesn't is readily apparent when these two meet in the post season.

I don't put much stock into "Well, the Wild beat a BETTER St. Louis team in Round 1" garbage.

 

The Blues were PERHAPS the better team....a slight favorite, maybe....but I am not at all surprised the Wild beat them, just as I wasn't surprised the Wild beat the Avalanche the year before.

In both Colordado's and St. Louis' cases this year, people made such a big deal that the Wild had done so....as if, "Wow, those Wild really did upset the Avs / Blues".

I thought the Wild were better, or at least could PLAY better, than either of those two going in and they did.

 

Chicago howeve, is another matter entirely.

They really ARE a good team, a contender, a Stanley Cup favorite.

And right now, still, it appears Minnesota isn't on their level.

 

It's nice to beat the Avalanche last year, to beat the Blues this year....but as those franchises are currently constructed, I do NOT want the Wild to measure themselves to them.

You want to be the best, you have to not only beat the best, but you must CARRY yourselves like the best when its all on the line.

That's what the Hawks do...that's what I want the Wild to do.

 

Right now, the Hawks have the better players, the better team, the better playoff DNA.

Go win a game tonight, Minnesota.

Show me you have a shred of that winning formula in you.

You're not gonna win 4 games tonight...but you can win one.

 

As good as the Hawks are...they aren't flawless.

They've given you opportunities...you've just gotta be men enough to take it.

 

Go Wild!

[hf101]

Vanek has been dropped to the 3rd line for tonight's game.  I hope is minutes are clipped as well if he continues to play his non engaging peripheral game.  I'd like to see him traded this summer but I doubt it will happen.  Too bad no one noticed how invisible he was last playoffs with the Habs.

 

Tonight's lines:

 

Parise-Granlund-Pominville

Zucker-Koivu-Coyle

Niederreiter-Brodziak-Vanek

Cooke-Haula-Schroeder

 

Prosser in for Leopold also.

[jammer2]

@hf101  From what I recall, it was well documented how very badly Vanek performed for the Habs in that playoff year....he was DOGGING it big time and a LOT of people were talking about it. No energy or life in his game whatsoever....and it looks like he is pulling the same thing again. Kinda puzzling, cause there were times where he gave an awesome effort for the Sabres....you get traded from a horrible team, finally have a shot at the playoffs and you dog it?!?!  I don't get it.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

 

Vanek has been dropped to the 3rd line for tonight's game.  I hope is minutes are clipped as well if he continues to play his non engaging peripheral game.  I'd like to see him traded this summer but I doubt it will happen.  Too bad no one noticed how invisible he was last playoffs with the Habs.

 

Tonight's lines:

 

Parise-Granlund-Pominville

Zucker-Koivu-Coyle

Niederreiter-Brodziak-Vanek

Cooke-Haula-Schroeder

 

Prosser in for Leopold also.

 

 

I dunno, HF...I look at these lines and I just shake my head.

 

Vanek playing on the 3rd, even the 4th line is not unheard of...the Wild have dropped him down there on occasion throughout the season (tells ya something about his play, eh?)...but I look at a guy like Nino Niedderreiter, who is an important offensive player for Minnesota, and he has to skate with a PK specialist who can't hit a wide open net (Brodziak) and the aforementioned Thomas Vanek.

 

That sure doesn't bode well for helping to pick up Nino's game.

 

Then you look down on the 4th line, and have Erik Haula, a finesse non-checking player, playing with another finesse non-checking player (Schroeder) and a guy who is SUPPOSED to be a checking player, but will have a hard time keeping up with the speed that Haula and Schroeder both have.

 

The top two lines are ok...but in essence, IMO, what the Wild have done is pare down an effective 4-line team to a 2-line team...with the two bottom lines seemingly filler.

 

Throw in the fact that you have Ryan Carter or Sean Bergenheim sitting out (both better than Matt Cooke at this stage), and I just don't see how this Minnesota lineup is going to change the team's fortunes.

I hope I am wrong, but I just don't like the way this lineup is constructed for an elimination game.

 

Aside from the top lines, the only other thing I like is Nate Prosser in.

Prosser SHOULD have been playing more....even if it meant rotating he, Leopold, and or Folin.

 

Prosser brings a bit of size, grit, agitation factor (certainly more than Cooke these days and cleaner too), and is a decent coverage man from the 5 or 6-D position.

I just think Mike Yeo doesn't think much of Prosser in general and ONLY plays him when he has no choice.

 

Anyways, Go Wild....prove me wrong and win with this 'reconstructed' lineup.

[jammer2]

  I thought I read somewhere that the Flyers automatically get *2* second round picks should the Hawks reach the Western Conference Finals....can anyone else confirm that.....I think it is also dependent on Kimo playing more than half the Hawks playoff games.....is that correct?

[hf101]

  I thought I read somewhere that the Flyers automatically get *2* second round picks should the Hawks reach the Western Conference Finals....can anyone else confirm that.....I think it is also dependent on Kimo playing more than half the Hawks playoff games.....is that correct?

 

almost.

@frank_seravalli

Conditions 4th Rd 2016: Becomes 3rd if #Hawks win 2 rds & Kimmo plays 50% of games. 2nd if #Hawks win 3 rds & Kimmo plays 50% of 3rd series

[jammer2]

@hf101  Ahhh, thanks 101....very smart of the Hawks to throw in that 50% of the 3rd series. If he is playing like the Kimo of old, the Hawks will not hesitate to use him in the Western Conference final....the 2nd second rounder will not even be thought about if he is playing up to par. I'm sure the Hawks would gladly part with it in return for a solid veteran stability on the blue line.

[hf101]

3rd year in a row and can't even muster a win against the Hawks - Disappointing to say the least, as I expected a much longer series.

 

The Wild only finished 2 points behind the Hawks for the regular season. This should have been a longer more back with multiple lead changes type of series as the Wild have all the pieces to compete with the Hawks.  But yet this series showed they don't have enough and their pieces aren't good enough.  The held the lead in this series for 0.00 minutes and that really is unacceptable.  They made too many mental mistakes without much muscle to create more scoring chances.  

[Podein25]

The held the lead in this series for 0.00 minutes and that really is unacceptable. 

 

 

That is an astonishing stat. I didn't catch much of the series, save for last night's game. The Hawks showed in spades how experience - knowing how to win in May - matters. That's a pretty damn good team.

 

Hossa, 21 22 games and counting without a goal, and he's one of your best players! 

 

A Hawks-Ducks final in the West looks almost certain. That should be a doozy.

[TropicalFruitGirl26]

Just...dumbfounded.

 

A Minnesota team that SURELY is better than the previous two that had met their season's end against Chicago....actually finished WORSE by not even being able to win a single game.

 

All I can say after watching this series is...the Wild have a good team.

They have good players. They have players that haven't seen their potential.

But those players are simply NOT as good as the ones the Chicago Blackhawks currently have.

 

That's the ONLY explanation that is left after losing three straight years to basically the same team...culminating with this 4 game and out performance.

 

If the wikipedia 'prank' that Tyler Johnson is the owner of the Montreal Canadiens is anything to go by, then the Wild are a subsidiary, fully owned and operated, by the Chicago Blackhawks and their CEO, Patrick Kane.

Simple as that.

 

I really don't know where the Wild can go from here, except continue to develop their players, identify 'dead weight' players, LOSE said dead weight, and hope that next year the team will finally be better than Chicago.

Not better than St. Louis, not better than Nashville...not better than Winnipeg, Dallas or Colorado.

 

Measure up against the Blackhawks, and then, and only then, can the Wild really say, they have a chance at a Stanley Cup.

[mojo1917]

ll I can say after watching this series is...the Wild have a good team.
They have good players. They have players that haven't seen their potential.
But those players are simply NOT as good as the ones the Chicago Blackhawks currently have.

 

this ,

i was thinking this every game i watched too... the series despite being a sweep had close exciting games that had the Wild had a little better luck we would still be watching.  the goal off the butt of Dubnyk's goalie stick stands out as horrible luck. and there were pucks that were loose in the slot area that skipped over sticks or were cleared by a desperate 'hawks player with the net wide open.  Sometimes those plays can go the other way when the teams are pretty evenly matched; that all the luck seemed to go Chicago's way makes me believe they were just a little quicker to react, a little faster to the puck and a little more skilled.

 

the wild definitely need to keep the green and cream sweater as a mainstay and not a 3rd... that is a great look.

[MadDevil]

At the end of the day, when Chicago has Toews, Kane, Keith, Hossa, etc. going, there aren't many teams that are going to beat them in a 7 game series. I thought the Wild would at least take them to 6 games though.

Your best players have to be your best players. Koivu, Parise, Pominville, and Vanek combined for 2 goals in the series. Not that they all played poorly, but you need more production than that from your core forwards. Why exactly did they sign Vanek again?

[jammer2]

If the wikipedia 'prank' that Tyler Johnson is the owner of the Montreal Canadiens is anything to go by, then the Wild are a subsidiary, fully owned and operated, by the Chicago Blackhawks and their CEO, Patrick Kane.

Simple as that.

 

 The year that the Hawks got Kane, that was BS they leapfrogged into that #1 position. What it did was upset the balance of power, having a team like the Hawks, who already had Toews sweep in and get another superstar, when their play was no where close to the worst. What a load of crap.