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Wild Get Their First Look at Matthews Tonight

October 20, 2016, 3:13 AM ET [20 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Wild Game Day number 4
Wild Record (2-1-0 0 pts)
Home Record (2-0-0)

Opponent: Toronto Maple Leafs (1-0-2 4 pts)
Road Record (0-0-2)

Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN

Time: 7:00PM CT

TV: Fox Sports North (FSN)

Last Result:
12/3/15 Maple Leafs 0 @ Wild 1
3/3/16 Wild 2 @ Maple Leafs 1

The new look Maple Leafs are next up for the Wild tonight in St. Paul, led by super Frosh Auston Matthews. The Wild took both meetings last year and have won the last five games the two teams have played. Over those five meetings there has not been an abundance of offense, as the Leafs and Wild have combined to score just 13 goals.

Last season's match-up in St. Paul, a 1-0 Devan Dubnyk shutout, could very well have been different had it not been for then Wild head coach, Mike Yeo's offside challenge which nullified a third period Leafs goal.

Toronto is coming off a stinging OT loss last night in Winnipeg which saw them blow a three goal third period lead. The Leafs are a much different team this season with 1st overall pick Matthews along with fellow rookies William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Nikita Zaitsev giving Toronto renewed hope that they will once again return to the League's elite.

The Wild have won two straight on home ice and are starting to string together more complete periods, but still have work to do. The powerplay has been steadily improving and looks to be on track to becoming a real strength. Their puck movement and shot selection is starting to show results. The penalty kill is still perfect and has also generated several scoring opportunities. They have yet to score shorthanded, but that just appears to be a matter of time as the chances keep coming.

Devan Dubnyk will be back between the pipes for the Wild and will most likely be opposed by Jonas Enroth in the Leaf net.

Look for a quick start for the Wild as they try to establish the pace early to challenge the Leafs playing their second game in two nights. Mike Babcock is one of the smartest and most prepared coaches the game has ever seen. His teams are always well prepared and no two points come easy against his teams. He has changed the culture of the Leafs and it is a new era in Toronto. Expect a much different style game than we have seen these two teams play the last few years.

Let's Go Crazy!

Let's Go Wild!

Let's Play Hockey!
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