WildHBcommunity: Mike Yeo’s Young Guns Have Capitals in Their Sights
The Minnesota Wild’s Season is on Life Support
The Minnesota Wild was able to end a six-game regulation losing streak with a win Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center against the Buffalo Sabres. Although the win comes against the league worst Sabres, some positivity is crucial right now for the team and its fans. The Wild was able to break through getting the first goal on the board and it helped to reinforce their energy and effort. If there is any hope for the Wild to go on a significant run and get back into the Western Conference, it will be completely reliant on Mike Yeo’s young guns to produce.
Tonight the Wild 21 - 17 - 5 (47 points) host the Washington Capitals 20 - 15 - 6 (46 points) at the X. The Capitals have gone 1 - 2 – 2 in their last 5 games and 3 - 3 – 4 in last 10 games. The Wild is 1-4-0 in their last 5 games and 3-7-0 in the last 10 games. Both these teams have significantly better records after scoring the 1st goal of the game, Capitals are 13 - 6 – 0 while the Wild are 15 - 4 – 2. The most significant set of numbers for the Wild has been when leading after the 1st period they are 8-1-1 while they have gone 1-11-2 when trailing after the 1st period.
The Capitals are visiting Saint Paul for their second time this season with the first meeting between these team at the X ending in a 3-2 shoot out win for Washington. The Capitals have been averaging 3.07 goals per game in their last 13 games posting a 6-3-4 record. It will be all eyes on
Alex Ovechkin tonight as he has scored 54 goals in his last 62 regular season games dating back to last season. Ovechkin and his linemate
Nicklas Backstrom has earned 74 assist during that same period of games as the playmaker for the superstar.
Today word came out that
Jared Spurgeon has a lower body injury that will require a multi-week trip to the injured reserve list. Spurgeon has arguably been the Wild’s best defender in their defensive zone this season so his being out of the lineup will be significant. The Wild also placed gritty center
Zenon Konopka on waivers ahead of the game against Buffalo only to have the Sabres claim the veteran face-off specialist. Konopka was surely placed on waivers over other options because he was sure to be claimed. Konopka was an interesting personality to get to know in his time here in Minnesota but he failed largely to make much of an impact with his play.
The Spurgeon injury matched with
Mathew Dumba being assigned to Team Canada for the World’s Junior Hockey Classic, has left the Wild very thin on the blue line. Before Dumba left for the WJHC he had his rights acquired by the Portland Winter Hawks from the Red Deer Rebels which led to speculation he would return to the Western Hockey league rather than the Wild. Dumba’s play has been sporadic in the WJHC leaving me underwhelmed to be honest.
http://video.wild.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=518848
I believe Dumba would be better served to go play in the WHL on a team looking to make a deep playoff run at the Memorial Cup. Dumba has things in his game to work before he is ready to compete at his highest level. I believe Dumba needs to address his defensive positioning and gap control as a defender. Often Dumba is out of position and forced to chase opponents because he doesn’t not read and react to the evolution of plays on the rush. Dumba needs to get stronger physically to be able to compete at his highest level. He often is called for bad penalties reaching with his stick when shielded by bigger and stronger players.
http://blip.tv/hockeybuzztv/wjc-day-5-matt-dumba-6714466
The next move will be on Chuck Fletcher with regard to Dumba’s next destination because the Wild could definitely use help on their blue line right now with Spurgeon out. At current the Spurgeon absence means
Nate Prosser,
Clayton Stoner, and
Keith Ballard are all playing elevated minutes and roles without anh extra defender. The first defensemen call up this season was offensive defensemen free agent signee Jacob Blum. He was called up for one game then returned before the Buffalo game. Other options in Iowa include
Tyler Cuma a former 1st round pick of the Wild, AHL journeymen huge point producer Brian Connelly, and
Steven Kampfer. None of the Wild’s AHL options for callup play with the physical edge that Dumba has the potential to.
Tonight I look for the young forwards of the Wild to step up and put some pucks in the net. It is time to earn your spot on the roster for this season and justify your spot with the organization in the NHL going forward. Obviously any time
Jason Zucker is on the ice here in MN the fans are glued to their screens and on the edge of their seats. His goal against
Ryan Miller was placed in a spot next to no one on the roster for the Wild could replicate it was true snipe. Zucker better seize his opportunity now because he could quickly find his way onto the trading block for the Wild.
The use of
Charlie Coyle as the Wild’s 3rd line center is an interesting choice by Yeo. I have been less than impressed with Coyle in the middle this season as his puck handling in open ice has left a lot to be desired in my opinion. Coyle when playing the middle this season has looked to be not sure exactly where he is supposed to be at times causing him to be slow to react. Coyle’s size and strength certainly are appealing up the middle though for a Wild starving for scoring. Coyle looks to be centering
Matt Cooke and
Brett Bulmer tonight. Bulmer called up today when Spurgeon went on the IR, is a big frame kid who plays with a ton of energy. Keep an eye on that 3rd line tonight because I like the mix of skill sets it will feature.
Individual Leaders
Washington Capitals Minnesota Wild
Points: N. BACKSTROM (45),A. OVECHKIN (42),M. GRABOVSKI (30) M. KOIVU (33),J. POMINVILLE (29),Z. PARISE (27)
Goals: A. OVECHKIN (31),J. WARD (12),M. GRABOVSKI (11) J. POMINVILLE (18),Z. PARISE (15),D. HEATLEY (8)
Assists: N. BACKSTROM (35),M. JOHANSSON (22),M. GRABOVSKI (19) M. KOIVU (25),R. SUTER (24),M. GRANLUND (13)
PP Goals: A. OVECHKIN (12),T. BROUWER (5),J. WARD (4) Z. PARISE (8),J. POMINVILLE (5),D. HEATLEY (3)
SH Goals: J. WARD (1),N. BACKSTROM (1) Z. PARISE (1)
GW Goals: A. OVECHKIN (4),J. WARD (1),B. LAICH (1) J. POMINVILLE (5),M. KOIVU (3),M. COOKE (2)
3+ Goals: M. GRABOVSKI(1),J. WARD(1),A. OVECHKIN(1)
PIM: T. WILSON (85),T. BROUWER (56),S. OLEKSY (51) Z. KONOPKA (55),C. STONER (39),K. BALLARD (31)
Shots: A. OVECHKIN (218),J. CARLSON (108),M. GREEN (98) Z. PARISE (144),J. POMINVILLE (120),M. KOIVU (103)
+/-: S. OLEKSY (+7),M. GRABOVSKI (+4),A. URBOM (+1) M. COOKE (+7),J. SPURGEON (+6),N. NIEDERREITER (+6)
Last Game –Wild 4 vs. Sabres 1: Minnesota scored three second-period goals en route to a 4-1 victory against Buffalo to end its
losing streak Thursday night in Saint Paul. D Marco Scandella, RW Jason Pominville, LW Jason Zucker and C Kyle Brodziak
scored for the Wild, while G Niklas Backstrom made 19 saves to earn his first regulation win since Oct. 26.
Next Games (all times Central)
1/7 at LA 9:30 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM
1/9 at PHX 8 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM
1/11 vs. COL 7 pm –FSN, KFAN 100.3
Current Wild Injuries
LW Zach Parise (IR) –5 games (lower body)
G Josh Harding –1 game (illness)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 99
Recent Transactions
1/4 –Recalled F Brett Bulmer from Iowa (AHL) and placed D Jared Spurgeon on IR
1/3 –C Zenon Konopka claimed off waivers by Buffalo
1/2 –Recalled G Darcy Kuemper from Iowa (AHL)
1/1 –Recalled F Jason Zucker from and reassigned D Jonathon Blum to Iowa (AHL)
Upcoming Milestones
LW Mike Rupp –99 career points (54-45=99)
Wild vs. Capitals
All-Time Wild Record: 7-5-1 (6-0-0 at Xcel Energy Center, 1-5-1 at Washington)
2013-14: The Capitals took the first meeting of the season with a 3-2 shootout victory at Verizon Center (11/7)…C Charlie
Coyle and C
Mikael Granlund each netted goals for Minnesota
while G Josh Harding stopped 25-of-27 shots through overtime and saved two of
three shootout attempts…C Marcus
Johansson (1-1=2) and RW Alex Ovechkin scored for the Capitals and G Braden Holtby made
33 saves and stopped all three shootout attempts.
WILD LEADERS: LW Dany Heatley leads the Wild with 35 points (12-23=35) in 34 games against the Capitals...RW Jason
Pominville owns 21 points (9-12=21) in 31 contests...LW Zach Parise has 19 points (8-11=19) in 26 games.
WILD GOALIES: G Niklas Backstrom is 2-1-0 with a 2.67 GAA and a .895 SV% in three starts...Harding is 0-1-1 with a 1.93 GAA and
a .940 SV% in two starts…G Darcy Kuemper has not faced Washington.
CAPITALS LEADERS: RW Martin Erat has 27 points (12- 15=27) in 37 games against Minnesota...RW Troy Brouwer owns eight
points (5-3=8) in 14 contests…C Brooks Laich has seven points (3-4=7) in seven games…Ovechkin owns six points (4-2=6) in six
contests.
CAPITALS GOALIES: Holtby is 2-0-0 with a 0.96 GAA, .968 SV% and one shutout in two starts against Minnesota...G Michal
Neuvirth is 0-1-0 with a 2.05 GAA and a .882 SV%...G Philipp Grubauer has not faced the Wild.
CONNECTIONS: LW Matt Cooke skated in 17 games with Washington
in 2007-08...Goaltending Coach Bob Mason played in 76 for
the Capitals over five seasons (1983-87, 1989-90)... RW Joel Ward made his NHL debut with Minnesota appearing in 11 games (2006-
07)...D Jack Hillen is from Minnetonka.
FAST FACT: Washington is the only team that hasn’t earned a win at Xcel Energy Center (0-5-1).
13 Things to Know:
1. Minnesota finishes its four-game homestand, tied for its longest this season. The Wild has posted a 15-5-2 record in Saint Paul this
season, winning 11 of its last 15 games and 15 of its last 20 contests on home ice.
2. The Wild has never lost to the Capitals on home ice, earning six wins, including five straight by one goal (3-0 win 1/10/01). With a 0-
5-1 record in Saint Paul, Washington is the only NHL team that hasn’t won at Xcel Energy Center.
3. Mikko Koivu netted two assists Thursday to claim his 100th career multi-point game. He has six points (1-5=6) in a four-game point
streak, tied for his longest this season. Minnesota’s captain leads the Wild with 25 assists and 33 points in 43 games this season,
including 25 points (7-18=25) in the last 28 games. On Dec. 29, he became the first player in franchise history to record 300 assists
(Bouchard, 241). He ranks third amongst all NHL forwards in TOI/game (21:38) and fifth in faceoffs won. He registered his 14th career
shootout game-deciding goal Dec. 14 at COL, T-1st for most amongst all NHL players, and his 33 career shootout goals rank fifth for
Minnesota Wild: Media Notes
most amongst all players.
4. Ryan Suter recorded two assists, a plus-three rating, four shots, two blocked shots and two hits in Thursday’s win. He has four
points (2-2=4) in a three-game point streak and 11 points (2-9=11) in his last 11 games, seeing a seven-game assist streak (7) end
Dec. 27 –a career-best and franchise-best amongst defensemen. He leads Wild defensemen with 26 points in 43 games this season
and his 24 assists are T-4th amongst all NHL blueliners, entering play Friday. He leads the NHL in TOI/game (29:38), more than two
minutes more than any other player. He’s topped the 30-minute mark in seven of the last 10 games, 16 of the last 28 contests and 21
times overall this season –surpassing his 10 games of 30-plus minutes in 48 games last season. Since 2007-08, there have been 10,
35:00-plus performances in the NHL (regular season), and Suter totaled three of them in the span of six days this season –the top three
TOI of his career. According to Elias Sports Bureau, his 108:19 TOI in three games Nov. 7-13 (36:06 average) is the most by any NHL
player in three consecutive games since TOI started being tracked in 2000-01. He set a Wild franchise record with a career-high 36:51
at WSH (11/7).
5. Jason Pominville scored the winning goal Thursday and has both winners in two games against his former team. He ranks second
on the Wild with 29 points this season(18-11=29), including 12 points (5-7=12) in the last 16 games. His 18 goals lead the Wild and
rank T-13th amongst all NHL players entering Friday, while his five game-winning goals lead Minnesota and rank T-5th in the NHL. The
former Sabres captain was acquired by the Wild April 3 and signed a five-year contract extension on Oct. 3. He scored the game winner
in his return to Buffalo Oct. 14, completing a collection of goals against all 30 NHL franchises.
6. Josh Harding leads the NHL in GAA (1.65), ranks third in SV% (.933), ranks T-2nd in shutouts (3), and T-6th in wins (18-7-3),
allowing two goals or less in 24-of-29 games this season. He’s already set career highs for most wins and shutouts in a single season
(13-12-4 and 2 shutouts in 2011-12), and a personal-best 131:36 shutout streak. He has allowed a total of 32, 5-on-5 goals in 29 games
this season and his .940 even-strength SV% is fourth amongst NHL goalies that have played more than 11 games. He is 14-3-0 on
home ice this season, posting a 35-12-2 record in his career starts at Xcel Energy Center, including 28-7-1 since Jan. 27, 2010 and 17-
4-0 in his last 21 starts in Saint Paul. He was named the NHL’s Third Star of November after posting an 8-2-2 record with a 1.88 GAA
and .926 SV% in the month, becoming the first player to earn NHL monthly honors in franchise history.
7. Minnesota has scored at least one third-period goal in 12 straight wins, dating back to a 2-1 shootout win vs. Toronto on Nov. 13. In
that span, the third-period goals have been a game-winning goal in five games and have tied the game to force extra time before
winning in a shootout in four contests.
8. Mikael Granlund has three points (1-2=3) in five games since returning from an upper-body injury that saw him skate just 29
seconds in the span of 14 games (Nov. 23-Dec. 19). The 21-year-old has 15 points (3-12=15) in 29 games with the Wild this season
after totaling eight points (2-6=8) in 27 games during his rookie year with Minnesota last season.
9. Nino Niederreiter has three points (1-2=3) in his last three games, totaling 20 points (7-13=20) in his first season with Minnesota,
while ranking second on the club with 101 hits. He previously totaled three points (2-1=3) in 64 games over parts of two seasons with
the Islanders (2010-12).
10. Justin Fontaine has 12 points (8-4=12) in his 37 games during his rookie season, including four points (2-2=4) in his last six
games. His eight goals this season are T-7th amongst all NHL rookies.
11. Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were named to the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team Wednesday. Five other Wild players
were named to pre-Olympic rosters for their native countries: Niklas Backstrom, Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu (Finland), Jonas
Brodin (Sweden) and Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland). The 2014 Winter Olympics are set to take place in Sochi, Russia, with an NHL
Olympic break from Feb. 9-25.
12. Two players with Wild ties are skating in the 2014 IIF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden, Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Minnesota
assigned D Matt Dumba to Canada’s National Junior Team Dec. 11 and he was named an alternate captain Dec. 19. He’s tallied an
assist and a plus-five rating in five games, helping Canada reach the semifinals against Finland Saturday. Wild prospect D Gustav
Olofsson has earned five points (1-4=5) and is tied for the team lead with a plus-six rating in five games, helping Sweden to the
semifinal round, where it will face Russia Saturday. C Christoph Bertschy was named to Switzerland’s preliminary roster but will not
participate due to an ankle injury.
13. Iowa Wild Update
Last Game: 3-2 SO win at Rockford (1/3). Goal Scorers: Jonathon Blum (4), Tyler Graovac (6),
Goalie: Johan Gustafsson (37-of-39)
Upcoming Schedule: at Chicago (1/4)
Leading Scorers: Jonathon Blum (4-13=17), Brian Connelly (1-16=17), Erik Haula (8-8=16),
Courtesy of wild.com/pressbox and @mnwildPR
Just My Take,
Tony Dean
Follow Me on Twitter @TonyDean1204
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