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MNWild: The Hunting Season on Hawks Opens Tonight at the X. |
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MNWild: The Hunting Season on BlackHawks Opens Tonight at the X.
Let’s be clear here when Chuck Fletcher was announced as the new captain of the shipwrecked Minnesota Wild franchise, he was afford the opportunity at the expense of Doug Reisbrough being thrown overboard and Jacques Lemaire abandoning ship. For Fletcher to right the ship and clear the wreckage the clear blueprint to rebuild had been provided by the Chicago Blackhawks organization. Sure losing their way into Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane was extremely advantageous but the Hawks have more than just lucked their way into 2 Stanley Cups for their current core of players.
More than any other franchise in the NHL, the clear bench mark for the Wild’s progress and relevance will come from testing their metal against the Blackhawks especially given this year’s realignment of divisions. Sure the Wild has other franchises built into the new division to battle and attempt to create new rivalries like Winnipeg and Saint Louis but the clear far and away arch nemesis will always be Chicago.
Tonight will mark the end of the first month of 2013-14 NHL season for the Wild as well as being the backend of a home and home series versus the defending Stanley Cup Champions and the team that ended their season so handily last year creating doubts and providing clear change and motivation for the franchise. The Wild went into Chicago on Saturday night looking to continue their positive momentum after a less than successful early season four game road trip against the Eastern Conference. The Wild found itself getting on the scoreboard in Chicago early then often earning a 5-3 victory against the BlackHawks.
For the Wild their success against Chicago on Saturday night means a great deal to the current roster and coaching staff but a win this evening in Saint Paul would reinforce all of the positivity and confidence that has been building over this first month of the season. Chicago will be ready and motivated tonight to prove they are the better of these two teams and attempt to cash in on scoring chances. The Wild received heroic effort from Niklas Backstrom during their 5-3 victory Saturday night, tonight the Wild better work harder to eliminate the scoring chances by this extremely dangerous Blackhawks team.
The Wild win tonight if they continue to impose their will and style of play on their opponent with aggressive positional responsible hockey. The Wild scoring 5 goals against Corey Crawford is unrealistic to expect but it was a very pleasant surprise to see them rewarded and I think they truly believe in their system. Tonight I think the 2nd Line for the Wild will need to create scoring opportunities and dominate puck possession for the Wild to win back to back games against the Blackhawks. The Wild’s bottom 4 pairing especially Clayton Stoner and Mathew Dumba need to be very clear about where the puck needs to be cleared out of the zone and where each other is positioned during rushes by the Blackhawks and extended possession in the Wild’s zone. Point blank Marco Scandella needs to be the version of himself that plays with confidence and aggressiveness in both ends of the rink with the Wild missing Jonas Brodin. Scandella seems to play some of his best hockey against the BlackHawks and they Wild need him to continue that this evening.
Chicago Blackhawks @ Minnesota Wild
Team Records
Chicago Blackhawks Minnesota Wild
Last game: Saturday VS MINNESOTA (5-3 L) Saturday AT CHICAGO (5-3 W)
Next game: CHI: Tuesday VS OTTAWA MIN: Friday VS MONTREAL
Overall record/streak: CHI: 6 - 2 - 3 / Lost 1 MIN: 6 - 3 - 3 / Win 3 / Undef 3
Home record/streak: CHI: 4 - 1 - 2 / Lost 1 MIN: 4 - 0 - 2 / Win 4 / Undef 4
Road record/streak: CHI: 2 - 1 - 1 / OTL 1 MIN: 2 - 3 - 1 / Win 1 / Undef 1
Chicago Blackhawks @ Minnesota Wild
Situations
Individual Leaders
Chicago Blackhawks Minnesota Wild
Points: P. KANE (9),J. TOEWS (8),M. HOSSA (6)
Points: Z. PARISE (9),M. COOKE (8),M. KOIVU (8)
Goals: P. KANE (6),M. HOSSA (4),B. BICKELL (4)
Goals: J. POMINVILLE (6),Z. PARISE (6),M. COOKE (3)
Assists: D. KEITH (6),N. HJALMARSSON (6),N. LEDDY (5)
Assists: M. KOIVU (7),R. SUTER (7),M. GRANLUND (7)
PP Goals: P. KANE (3),J. TOEWS (2),B. SEABROOK (1)
PP Goals: Z. PARISE (4),J. POMINVILLE (3),J. BRODIN (2)
SH Goals:
GW Goals: M. HANDZUS (1),J. ODUYA (1),P. KANE (1)
GW Goals: M. COOKE (2),J. POMINVILLE (2),Z. PARISE (1)
3+ Goals:
PIM: B. BOLLIG (21),J. TOEWS (12),M. ROZSIVAL (10)
PIM: Z. KONOPKA (30),C. STONER (13),N. NIEDERREITER (12)
Shots: P. SHARP (45),M. HOSSA (43),P. KANE (40)
Shots: Z. PARISE (63),J. POMINVILLE (37),M. KOIVU (28)
+/-: M. HOSSA (+5),N. HJALMARSSON (+5),J. ODUYA
+/-: (+3) M. COOKE (+6),J. FONTAINE (+6),M. KOIVU (+4)
Wild’s 3 Keys To Victory
1. The Wild needs to make good on turnovers and power play opportunities because the BlackHawks will be seeking revenge for Saturday night’s loss and I am sure the theme in their dressing room was putting the puck in the net given how many premium scoring chances they created against the Wild.
2. The Wild has to stay out of the penalty box tonight because Chicago has top tier snipers and any extended offensive zone possession or man advantage play significantly improves their space and opportunity to take over the game. BlackHawks players specifically Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Sharp have to be itching for another opportunity at the type of looks they had Saturday night.
3. Niklas Backstrom needs better play from his defensive corps tonight because being very honest about it, they got bailed out by an outstanding effort from the veteran netminder. The Dumba/Stoner pairing needs to be physical and decisive tonight. Tonight would be perfect timing for Dumba to be dynamic with the puck and announce his presence with some physical play.
Just My Take,
Tony Dean
@AWKD
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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