And can the Wild PLEASE for the love of god score just once on a major?! Jeezus H! how many is that now so far this season? 0 for 7 or 8? Pathetic.
- MnGump

If they don't change up the personnel, I really don't see this power play improving. I can buy the luck and shooting percentage argument up to a certain point, but this PP is so stale and it's never changing. It's almost as if it needs not be defended. Perimeter is well covered though.

Where'd everybody go? Geez, a quarter way into the season and we're back to the same 2 or 3 people in the HB Wild threads... Depressing.


I think there was more action in here before the season started...

Oh well. How 'bout that PP?!

Where'd everybody go? Geez, a quarter way into the season and we're back to the same 2 or 3 people in the HB Wild threads... Depressing.


I think there was more action in here before the season started...

Oh well. How 'bout that PP?!
- MnGump

It's us. We drive them away.

I'm a little surprised with the quotes from Parise and Pominville about the booing of the power play. I understand that winning is important but even Yeo said the PP is stopping them from being an elite team. It's easily cost them several games this year. I think everyone's pissed and frustrated with it because they aren't even creating chances. That' not a recipe for making the playoffs in the Western Conference. It's time this team showed it can excel in all aspects of the game.

It's us. We drive them away.

I'm a little surprised with the quotes from Parise and Pominville about the booing of the power play. I understand that winning is important but even Yeo said the PP is stopping them from being an elite team. It's easily cost them several games this year. I think everyone's pissed and frustrated with it because they aren't even creating chances. That' not a recipe for making the playoffs in the Western Conference. It's time this team showed it can excel in all aspects of the game.
- Chinaski

I think it's me Chi!

Yeah, I understand where the players are coming from to an extent, but this fanbase is not dumb and no where near over critical for the most part. They know that in order to make a legitimate cup run that this team needs to be firing on all cylinders in all aspects of the game.

The PP has absolutely cost this squad at least 3 or 4 wins, which would theoretically would put them right at or near the top of the division.

From Russo's blog:

"The No. 1 unit today had Parise-Mikko Koivu (to win that draw since the other centers on the team have been subpar)-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville-Jonas Brodin (Suter if he plays) and the No. 2 unit had Jason Zucker-Thomas Vanek-Nino Niederreiter-Marco Scandella-Jared Spurgeon.

Christ, they don't know how to fix it.

From Russo's blog:

"The No. 1 unit today had Parise-Mikko Koivu (to win that draw since the other centers on the team have been subpar)-Mikael Granlund-Jason Pominville-Jonas Brodin (Suter if he plays) and the No. 2 unit had Jason Zucker-Thomas Vanek-Nino Niederreiter-Marco Scandella-Jared Spurgeon.

Christ, they don't know how to fix it.
- Chinaski

Is it really the players that are the problem? Maybe it's just the scheme, plain and simple.

Is it really the players that are the problem? Maybe it's just the scheme, plain and simple.
- MnGump

I think it's the scheme mostly but those combinations don't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Is Vanek supposed to be the guy setting the table for the shooters on that 2nd unit? That first unit has one shooter in Parise but he's also the only guy that will park it at the net so he won't really be in the greatest shooting positions while Granlund and Koivu are passing the thing all over the place.

Pominville on the point. Why? Have we no other players on this team that can shoot the puck just as well as him or better off a one-timer?

I'd rather see some of the regular defensemen out there. I like using Scandella/Spurgeon, but maybe they should be moved to the first pair. Folin looks like a guy that can really shoot it. I'd like to see him get a chance on the power play.

I think one of Zucker or Niederreiter needs to be on the first unit. And both of those guys should be given a directive to be the primary shooters on each unit.

Parise and Vanek can be the net front guys on each of the units.

Koivu and Granlund can be the primary playmakers on each unit.

Parise-Granlund-Zucker-Scandella-Spurgeon
Vanek-Koivu-Niederreiter-Folin-Suter(Brodin)

That first unit has five guys that can really move all over the place - could be tough to defend if they don't stay stationary.

I think it's the scheme mostly but those combinations don't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Is Vanek supposed to be the guy setting the table for the shooters on that 2nd unit? That first unit has one shooter in Parise but he's also the only guy that will park it at the net so he won't really be in the greatest shooting positions while Granlund and Koivu are passing the thing all over the place.

Pominville on the point. Why? Have we no other players on this team that can shoot the puck just as well as him or better off a one-timer?

I'd rather see some of the regular defensemen out there. I like using Scandella/Spurgeon, but maybe they should be moved to the first pair. Folin looks like a guy that can really shoot it. I'd like to see him get a chance on the power play.

I think one of Zucker or Niederreiter needs to be on the first unit. And both of those guys should be given a directive to be the primary shooters on each unit.

Parise and Vanek can be the net front guys on each of the units.

Koivu and Granlund can be the primary playmakers on each unit.

Parise-Granlund-Zucker-Scandella-Spurgeon
Vanek-Koivu-Niederreiter-Folin-Suter(Brodin)

That first unit has five guys that can really move all over the place - could be tough to defend if they don't stay stationary.
- Chinaski

You make it difficult to disagree... I honestly can't argue with your logic.

Hey T, hows about a new blog one of these days?!

Ha ha! (frank)ing Lapantsoff! "Anyone want to talk Power Play trouble now!" What a doosh bag!

Is it just me or does Kuemper pretty much suck?!

At least Yeo waited til the game was pretty much lost to pull him....

Ha ha! (frank)ing Lapantsoff! "Anyone want to talk Power Play trouble now!" What a doosh bag!
- MnGump

Jesus, he really said that? It's not like they went from 9% to 30% with a couple PP goals. The one positive from tonight - most of the guys may now understand why it's good to shoot the puck. Even Koivu.

Boy I don't like that hit by Ballard. It's just too low. I wonder if Getzlaf chewed out Thompson in the first intermission for fighting Ballard. I swear Getzlaf was just itching to take that one himself.

Boy I don't like that hit by Ballard. It's just too low. I wonder if Getzlaf chewed out Thompson in the first intermission for fighting Ballard. I swear Getzlaf was just itching to take that one himself.
- Chinaski

Meh, I didn't think it was that bad, and in light of some of the cheap shots being dished out by Ducks players, I was glad he did it. Getzlaf likes to hack and whack with the best of them...

Jesus, he really said that? It's not like they went from 9% to 30% with a couple PP goals. The one positive from tonight - most of the guys may now understand why it's good to shoot the puck. Even Koivu.
- Chinaski

He said it immediately after the 2nd PP goal. I think it was kind of a "heat of the moment" thing, but dooshy nonetheless. It was Paul Allen-esque.

Meh, I didn't think it was that bad, and in light of some of the cheap shots being dished out by Ducks players, I was glad he did it. Getzlaf likes to hack and whack with the best of them...
- MnGump

After that happened, I got the feeling the Wild got a little intimidated physically in that game. Ballard fighting Thompson took the temperature down a little bit, but several of the Ducks players looked to me like they wanted another pound of flesh. Kesler seemed to target Granlund a couple of times after a few whistles. I really thought something bad was going to happen in that game.

I'm getting concerned... been checking for Tony's picture on the sides of milk cartons lately...

Speaking of MIA, is Matt Cooke still alive?

I'm getting concerned... been checking for Tony's picture on the sides of milk cartons lately...

Speaking of MIA, is Matt Cooke still alive?
- MnGump

I'm in the process of become your new blogger

I'm in the process of become your new blogger
- Nucker101

Awesome, hows about posting one then!

Awesome, hows about posting one then!
- MnGump

I like to build the anticipation and hype.

Awesome, hows about posting one then!
- MnGump

New blog that could have been posted for about the last 2 months:

The power play is atrocious.
Vanek isn't playing up to expectations.
Goaltending is shaky.
Lines aren't producing at a high enough level for this team to be considered a serious contender.

New blog that could have been posted for about the last 2 months:

The power play is atrocious.
Vanek isn't playing up to expectations.
Goaltending is shaky.
Lines aren't producing at a high enough level for this team to be considered a serious contender.
- Chinaski

I also thought Yeo was given too much criticism, but this year he has no excuses with a Norris-caliber d-man and a really good forward group.

I also thought Yeo was given too much criticism, but this year he has no excuses with a Norris-caliber d-man and a really good forward group.
- Nucker101

No, no, no. Anymore criticism is unwarranted because of the mumps virus going around.

This latest series of events is actually comical.

Yeo: "Vanek, help me help you. What do we have to do to get you going?"
Vanek: "Uh...play me with top-6 players."