WildHBcommunity: The Blues Have Provided the Blue Print for Success in Today’s NHL
Minnesota Wild Host the St. Louis Blues on New Year’s Eve at the X
The St. Louis Blues 26 - 7 - 5 (57 points) are in Saint Paul this evening for a matchup with the limping Minnesota Wild 20 - 16 - 5 (45 points) tonight at the Excel Energy Center. These teams could not be going further in the opposite direction from each other right now, the Wild are 0-5-0 in their last 5 games and 3 - 7 – 0 in their last 10 games, while Blues are 4 - 0 – 1 in their last 5 games and 7 - 1 - 2 in their last 10 games. Both teams last played Sunday the Blues earning a 3-2 win over the Stars, the Wild fell 5-4 to the Islanders.
The Blues Have Provided the Blue Print for Success in Today’s NHL
The currently compiled roster of the St. Louis Blues should be the mirror for all NHL organization seeking sustained success and the ability to compete with any team in hockey. The mix of young talent and veterans has the Blues primed to be relevant among the NHL’s best for years to come. The Blues have the size and skill combo in the forward lines every team strives for while having compiled arguably the best defensive corps in the league.
The difference right now between where the Blues and Wild currently are in their evolution of talent is stark. The hope has to be that the Wild will have their young players develop as the Blues have enjoyed with players like
T.J. Oshie,
Alex Pietrangelo,
Jaden Schwartz, Vladmir Tarasenko,
Chris Stewart, and Kirk Shattenkirk. The Blues went through some down years in which they were forced to compile young talent which in turn they added veteran players developing their core. The Blues are undoubtedly ahead of the Wild in that regard and the results this year and last have proven it to be the case.
The Wild is currently trudging towards a pivotal time for the franchise as the losses mount and it becomes clear that this team will miss the playoffs. The Wild’s head coach Mike Yeo found himself at a loss for words following an unbelievable collapse by his team Sunday giving up a 3 goal lead in a 5-4 loss to the Islanders on their home ice. Yeo has yet to find the remedy for his teams current slide in the month of December after a franchise best first 2 months of the season.
I am of the opinion that general manager Chuck Fletcher and Wild owner Craig Leipold should be patient with Yeo because I don’t see much to gain from his dismissal during this season. The Wild even before this current NHL campaign began faced what shall prove to be insurmountable adversity due to salary cap constraints associated with
Dany Heatley’s contract. I don’t by any means believe this season’s failure are the responsibility of just one player, but the current roster would have a dramatically different look had he been eligible for compliance buyout.
The other major stumbling block for this current Wild team has been their young core of players (
Charlie Coyle,
Mikael Granlund,
Nino Niederreiter,
Jonas Brodin,
Jared Spurgeon,
Marco Scandella,
Jason Zucker,
Erik Haula,
Brett Bulmer, and
Darcy Kuemper) are just not far enough along in their development at the NHL level. While they all have shown they belong in the NHL or playing significant minutes in Iowa, they have also been unable to produce consistently enough to carry the Wild. All signs have pointed to this season being a bridge year for the franchise as my esteemed colleague Brad Ratgen pointed out as early as this summer.
There will be a lot gained out of this season by the Wild organization though despite it being mostly like they miss the playoffs this year. In my mind Fletcher has the organization well on their way to maybe the best hockey ever played at the X in the years to come. Unfortunately it means another lost season for the team of 18,000 and another year Leipold has to deal with his franchise just not yet ready to be considered among the elite. Sure the Wild still has the second half of the season to prove that my take is flawed but I have confidence that they will not.
I will still be tuned in to the Wild this year to see the evolution of their young players, no Wild team in franchise history has put more skilled exciting under 23year old kids on the ice like this current team. As the season goes on Zucker will make his way back to Saint Paul along with Haula and Bulmer I am sure. This team will flash its future potential and the young players will play larger roles moving forward. Not sure if Yeo survives the entire year but at this point it is inconsequential in my mind.
Individual Leaders
St. Louis Blues Minnesota Wild
Points: A. STEEN (38),T. OSHIE (32),D. BACKES (30) M. KOIVU (30),J. POMINVILLE (28),Z. PARISE (27)
Goals: A. STEEN (24),D. BACKES (16),C. STEWART (13) J. POMINVILLE (17),Z. PARISE (15),D. HEATLEY (8)
Assists: T. OSHIE (27),J. BOUWMEESTER (23),K. SHATTENKIRK (22) M. KOIVU (22),R. SUTER (22),Z. PARISE (12)
PP Goals: D. BACKES (6),A. STEEN (5),D. ROY (4) Z. PARISE (8),J. POMINVILLE (5),D. HEATLEY (3)
SH Goals: A. STEEN (1),J. SCHWARTZ (1) Z. PARISE (1)
GW Goals: A. STEEN (6),K. SHATTENKIRK (3),V. TARASENKO (3) J. POMINVILLE (4),M. KOIVU (3),M. COOKE (2)
3+ Goals: C. STEWART(1)
PIM: C. STEWART (73),D. BACKES (70),R. REAVES (65) Z. KONOPKA (55),C. STONER (35),K. BALLARD (31)
Shots: A. STEEN (117),K. SHATTENKIRK (88),J. SCHWARTZ (78) Z. PARISE (144),J. POMINVILLE (111),M. KOIVU (96)
+/-: J. BOUWMEESTER (+18),J. SCHWARTZ (+18),A. STEEN (+15) N. NIEDERREITER (+6),M. COOKE (+5),M. SCANDELLA (+5)
Last Game –Wild 4 vs. Islanders 5: Islanders RW Kyle Okposo scored his second goal of the night with 5:48 left in regulation to lead
New York over Minnesota Sunday night at Xcel Energy Center. D Ryan Suter, D Jonas Brodin, RW Nino Niederreiter and RW
Justin Fontaine each scored for the Wild. G Josh Harding made 26 saves in the loss.
Next Games (all times Central)
1/2 vs. BUF 7 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM
1/4 vs. WSH 7 pm –FSN, KFAN 100.3
1/7 at LA 9:30 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM
Current Wild Injuries
LW Zach Parise (IR) –3 games (lower body)
D Clayton Stoner (IR) –3 games (lower body)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 95
Recent Transactions
12/30 –Recalled D Jonathon Blum from Iowa (AHL)
12/28 –Reassigned G Johan Gustafsson to Iowa (AHL); Placed F Zach Parise on IR
Upcoming Milestones
LW Mike Rupp –99 career points (54-45=99)
C Mikko Koivu –99 career multi-point games
Wild vs. Blues
All-Time Wild Record: 22-16-10 (14-6-4 at Xcel Energy Center, 8-10-6 at St. Louis)
2013-14: The Blues shutout the Wild, 3-0, in the first meeting of the season at Scottrade Center (11/25)...G Niklas Backstrom made
18 saves for the Wild...LW Alexander Steen scored twice and LW Vladimir Sobotka also scored...G Jaroslav Halak earned the win
making 22 saves.
WILD LEADERS: C Mikko Koivu owns 21 points (5-16=21) in 29 games against St. Louis...D Ryan Suter has 19 points (1- 18=19) in
46 matches...LW Dany Heatley has 14 points (10- 4=14) in 20 games...RW Jason Pominville owns seven points (3-4=7) in eight
contests.
WILD GOALIES: Backstrom is 6-9-1 with a 2.81 GAA, a .895 SV% and one shutout in 16 starts against the Blues...G Josh Harding is
6-3-1 with a 1.92 GAA and a .937 SV% in 12 games (10 starts).
BLUES LEADERS: C David Backes has 15 points (8-7=15) in 28 games...C Patrick Berglund owns 12 points (7-5=12) in 19
contests...RW Chris Stewart has 12 points (7-5=12) in 21 games...RW T.J. Oshie has 11 points (2-9=11) in 14 matches.
BLUES GOALIES: G Brian Elliott is 4-0-0 with a 2.04 GAA, a .905 SV% and two shutouts in five games (four starts) vs.
Minnesota...Halak is 2-2-3 with a 2.11 GAA, a .921 SV% and one shutout in eight starts.
CONNECTIONS: Darryl Sydor ended his career playing 47 games for the Blues in 2009-10...Rick Wilson played two seasons in St.
Louis (1975-76)...Backes is a native of Minneapolis and played three seasons at Minnesota State Mankato (2003-06)...D Jordan
Leopold was born in Golden Valley and played four seasons with the University of Minnesota (1998- 2002)...RW T.J. Oshie played
high school hockey in Warroad.
FAST FACT: Four of the last nine meetings have been decided after regulation...Minnesota is winless in its last six contests against St.
Louis (0-4-2).
13 Things to Know:
1. Minnesota continues its four-game homestand, tied for its longest this season. The Wild’s 14-4-2 record in Saint Paul, ranks second
to only St. Louis for most home wins in the Western Conference, entering play Monday. The Wild has won 10 of its last 13 games and
14 of its last 18 contests on home ice.
2. Mikko Koivu tallied two assists Sunday to earn his 99th career multi-point game. With his first assist of the game, he became the
first-ever Wild player to register 300 assists (Bouchard, 241). Minnesota’s captain leads the team in points (8-22=30) in 41 games this
season, including 22 points (7-15=22) in the last 26 games. He ranks third amongst all NHL forwards in TOI/game (21:35) 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 most amongst all players.
Minnesota Wild: Media Notes
3. Minnesota will host a New Year’s Eve game at Xcel Energy Center for the eighth consecutive year and 10th time in team history. The
Wild is 5-4-0 on home ice in those games and looks to snap a three-game losing streak, last topping San Jose, 3-2, on Dec. 31, 2008.
Minnesota has never faced the Blues on New Year’s Eve, but Tuesday’s contest will continue a stretch of only facing Western
Conference opponents on the holiday. Overall, Minnesota is 5-5-1 in games played on New Year’s Eve, falling in Detroit in 2001 and
tying in Edmonton in 2003.
4. Josh Harding leads the NHL in GAA (1.64), ranks fifth in SV% (.934), ranks T-2nd in shutouts (3), and fifth in wins (18-6-3), allowing
two goals or less in 23-of-28 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 30, 5-on-5 goals in 28 games this
season and his .942 even-strength SV% is T-2nd amongst NHL goalies that have played more than nine games. He is 14-2-0 on home
ice this season, posting a 35-11-2 record in his career starts at Xcel Energy Center, including 28-6-1 since Jan. 27, 2010 and 17-3-0 in
his last 20 starts in Saint Paul.
5. Ryan Suter netted his first goal of the season Sunday after seeing a career-best seven-game assist streak (7) end Friday, the
longest assist streak by a Wild defenseman in franchise history. His 22 assists lead the Wild and rank T-5th amongst all NHL
defensemen. He leads the NHL in TOI/game (29:40), more than two minutes more than any other player. He’s topped the 30-minute
mark in six of the last eight games, 15 of the last 26 contests and 20 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.
6. Jason Pominville is second on the Wild with 28 points (17-11=28) this season, including 11 points (4-7=11) in the last 14 games.
His 17 goals lead Minnesota and rank T-12th in the NHL entering play Monday. His four game-winning goals lead the Wild (T-8th in
NHL), and he ranks second on the team in shots (111) and PPGs (5). The former Sabres captain was acquired by the Wild April 3 and
signed a five-year contract extension on Oct. 3. He skated in his 600th career NHL game Oct. 26 and, after scoring the game winner in
his return to Buffalo Oct. 14, has scored against all 30 NHL franchises.
7. Justin Fontaine has his first goal and point streak of his career after netting a goal in each of the last two games. His eight goals
this season are T-7th amongst all NHL rookies, and he has 11 points (8-3=11) in 35 games this season, including three points (2-1=3)
in his last four contests.
8. The Wild is 12-3-5 in one-goal games this season (.600) –only Anaheim (15-1-5) has more wins and points from one-goal games,
entering play Monday. Nine of the last 11 Wild wins have been decided by one goal, as Minnesota has claimed victories in five of its
last six shootouts.
9. Mikael Granlund has three points (1-2=3) in four 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 28 games with the Wild this season
after totaling eight points (2-6=8) in 27 games during his rookie year with Minnesota last season.
10. Minnesota has scored at least one third-period goal in 11 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.
11. Seven Wild players were named to pre-Olympic rosters for their native countries: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter (USA), 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-one rating in three games as Canada topped Germany, lost in a shootout to the Czech Republic and beat Slovakia in
the preliminary round. Wild prospect D Gustav Olofsson has earned three points (1-2=3) in three games and leads Sweden with a
plus-six rating, as Sweden topped Switzerland, lost to Russia and defeated Norway in the preliminary round. 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: 4-0 loss vs. Milwaukee (12/29) Goalie: Johan Gustafsson (19-of-23)
Upcoming Schedule: at Rockford (1/3), at Chicago (1/4)
Leading Scorers: Erik Haula (8-8=16) , Jonathon Blum (3-13=16), Brian Connelly (1-14=15)
Courtesy of wild.com/pressbox and @mnwildPR
Just My Take
Tony Dean
Follow Me on Twitter @TonyDean1204
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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