John Forsland made the wild scoring chances seem better than they were. They had some great opportunities but Staal's wraparound came up short and Zucker lost control on his. Both cold have and probably should have been goals.

Wish we didn't have to wait until Wednesday at 8:30 to see game 4

Zucker is a POS first a spear on Barby and than he was throwing punches at a blues Defenseman behind the play yesterday. If he is going to play that way he need to answer the bell when Reavo calls him out.

OK, this was funny. From Jim Souhan / Minneapolis Star Tribune this morning:

"Three games into the playoffs, the best regular-season team in Wild history is winless and clueless, and the coach is selling the notion that his players should treat Wednesday’s Game 4 as if it were a Game 7.

Boudreau is 1-7 in Game 7s. He might as well try selling humidity to Missourians."
- bcallaway

John Forsland made the wild scoring chances seem better than they were. They had some great opportunities but Staal's wraparound came up short and Zucker lost control on his. Both cold have and probably should have been goals.

Wish we didn't have to wait until Wednesday at 8:30 to see game 4

Zucker is a POS first a spear on Barby and than he was throwing punches at a blues Defenseman behind the play yesterday. If he is going to play that way he need to answer the bell when Reavo calls him out.
- sycsam

And if the two posts the Blues hit in the first half of the game went in instead of our, the game would have been a lot different with them up 3-0 fairly early.

I've been surprised a lot by some of Zucker's cheap play as well. It's not like he's Torres or Cooke but it it's a lot more than I expected from him.

Did you guys see Werenski take the puck to the face? Ugly situation and now it appears he is out for the rest of the playoffs.

Hope it isn't anything serious and long term.

Did you guys see Werenski take the puck to the face? Ugly situation and now it appears he is out for the rest of the playoffs.

Hope it isn't anything serious and long term.
- Jason Millen

I was surprised they let him go back out there honestly

should have been sent for xrays immediately

You could also point at me, who said that Jake had a lot to prove this series. I also said that I didn't have a lot of confidence in this team.

They're proving to be more resilient than I suspected.

I'm so glad for it.
- eggsegan

I'll be the first to admit Jake had a lot to prove, maybe he still does. I actually agree with you there. But after the way he played in games 1 and 2, to then come out and say he isn't very good is just kinda odd. With Jake the talent was always there IMO. It was wether or not he had the mental fortitude to handle the pressure. I understand that we are all fans here and we want to believe our team will find a way to win. But from the Wild faithful it was almost like being down 2-0 was having the Blues right were they wanted them.

It's just people generally don't catch the holes in the games. The narrative will be great goaltending and the Blues got lucky.

Well I call bull on that. The stat police will cherry pick their stats and refuse to see the whole game, most people will not reqlize the BLUES HAVE EITHER LED OR BEEN TIED BUT NEVER have trailed in any game. And that is it isn't it. The deperate teams always start throwing pucks at the net as much as possible.

The Blues just play defense at the end and their breakouts too often were terrible. Well then you see Minnesota looking dominant. But it's misleading as the Blues have held the lead in most games.
- BluemanGuruu

Very solid points.

Did you guys see Werenski take the puck to the face? Ugly situation and now it appears he is out for the rest of the playoffs.

Hope it isn't anything serious and long term.
- Jason Millen

Eh, it will only be one more game.

Eh, it will only be one more game.
- fattyboubatty

Did you guys see this?

Corey Perry is jumping throwing punches into the Flames bench. The refs don't call it or stop play and the Ducks go down and score.

https://www.nhl.com/video...er/t-288500238/c-51524703

Of course, it's a shot Elliott likely wants back.

Forsberg ties the game 2-2 but will the Hawks challenge for goalie interference?

Did you guys see this?

Corey Perry is jumping throwing punches into the Flames bench. The refs don't call it or stop play and the Ducks go down and score.

https://www.nhl.com/video...er/t-288500238/c-51524703

Of course, it's a shot Elliott likely wants back.
- Jason Millen

Since Kessler went there Getzlaf and Corey have become increasingly dirty and they hardly get called for it.

They spear, they do whatever and then have the temerity to whine to the officials.

Look, I know calls get blown but can the NHL just maybe you get the game misconducts right?

Did you guys see this?

Corey Perry is jumping throwing punches into the Flames bench. The refs don't call it or stop play and the Ducks go down and score.

https://www.nhl.com/video...er/t-288500238/c-51524703

Of course, it's a shot Elliott likely wants back.
- Jason Millen

Yeah, your boyfriend was brutal last night.


Corey Perry's antics weren't as bad as the way Boston was hosed.

Bobby Ryan cracks Riley Nash in the head, Nash retaliates with a punch that Ryan embellishes the effect of, and Nash is the only one called. They both should have gone off - But Ryan stays and is there to tip in the OT winner.


Anybody else enjoying the Maple Leafs scaring the beejeebers out of the Washington Capitals?

Nashville will be a very tough out this year.

Yeah, your boyfriend was brutal last night.


Corey Perry's antics weren't as bad as the way Boston was hosed.

Bobby Ryan cracks Riley Nash in the head, Nash retaliates with a punch that Ryan embellishes the effect of, and Nash is the only one called. They both should have gone off - But Ryan stays and is there to tip in the OT winner.


Anybody else enjoying the Maple Leafs scaring the beejeebers out of the Washington Capitals?
- bcallaway

That call against Nash only was a giant load of horse crap. How did they not call Ryan for his part?

Refs have been awful in every game i have seen. Beyond ridiculous. Especially in ot when they are giving 1 team a pp

Yeah, your boyfriend was brutal last night.


Corey Perry's antics weren't as bad as the way Boston was hosed.

Bobby Ryan cracks Riley Nash in the head, Nash retaliates with a punch that Ryan embellishes the effect of, and Nash is the only one called. They both should have gone off - But Ryan stays and is there to tip in the OT winner.


Anybody else enjoying the Maple Leafs scaring the beejeebers out of the Washington Capitals?
- bcallaway

Hasn't it always been that way in the NHL? Stars get away with murder and the retaliator gets hosed?

Loving the Leafs! Good coaching, talent, and a positive attitude are carrying them right now.

All of a sudden, Shattenkirk can't hit the net...

He'll never be a number 1 defenseman. Anyone who pays him big dollars is fooling themselves.

Yeah, your boyfriend was brutal last night.


Corey Perry's antics weren't as bad as the way Boston was hosed.

Bobby Ryan cracks Riley Nash in the head, Nash retaliates with a punch that Ryan embellishes the effect of, and Nash is the only one called. They both should have gone off - But Ryan stays and is there to tip in the OT winner.


Anybody else enjoying the Maple Leafs scaring the beejeebers out of the Washington Capitals?
- bcallaway

NHL franked a lot up last night imho. Nashville goal should have been disallowed for incidental goalie contact, Ducks goal should have been disallowed for high stick, Ducks goal never happened due to Perry penalty, Boston never should have been short handed leading to the PP goal, etc.

Hasn't it always been that way in the NHL? Stars get away with murder and the retaliator gets hosed?

Loving the Leafs! Good coaching, talent, and a positive attitude are carrying them right now.

All of a sudden, Shattenkirk can't hit the net...

He'll never be a number 1 defenseman. Anyone who pays him big dollars is fooling themselves.
- eggsegan

I really don't think anyone sees him as a #1 defenseman. They see him as a PP specialist and great offensive defenseman. Is he on the ice for alot of faceoffs in his own zone even with the Caps? Haven't been paying too much attention to that. Like to see the numbers on that though.

People might tell him what he wants to hear during contract negotiations, but when it comes down to it, he is a defensive liability and how many teams are going to suffer to cater to a players ego? (okay probably too many to name ha ha)

Shatty will get 7+ a year to be a 2nd line defense and PP specialist, on a good team. Will he go to a terrible team so he can play in every situation? Is he that greedy? I understand players have the ability to make money in free agency but i would take 5 million a season in order to compete for a cup compared to 7 mill on a terrible team.

Nashville will be a very tough out this year.
- Yeah Boyes

I'm shocked at what they're doing to Chicago. And it's legit, they're outplaying them.

It's hard not to be thinking about how entertaining a second round St. Louis / Nashville series would be.

The top teams in each conference are 1-5.

The top two teams in the Central Division are 0-6.

Home ice advantage is a myth. It comes down to match ups and whose playing the best going in.

I'm shocked at what they're doing to Chicago. And it's legit, they're outplaying them.

It's hard not to be thinking about how entertaining a second round St. Louis / Nashville series would be.

The top teams in each conference are 1-5.

The top two teams in the Central Division are 0-6.

Home ice advantage is a myth. It comes down to match ups and whose playing the best going in.
- bcallaway

What it tells me is, the gap between the best teams and the worst playoff teams is marginal. Match ups matter a lot because of that.

What it tells me is, the gap between the best teams and the worst playoff teams is marginal. Match ups matter a lot because of that.
- carcus

Yup. Been that way for a while now, which is why i stopped caring years ago where the Blues finish as long as they make the playoffs. I even kind of like the start on the road.

Home teams tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves in games 1 and 7 - feeling like they have to win those in front of their fans.

If Chicago goes down and it certainly looks like they are, the Western Conference is WIDE OPEN.

Some interesting stats through 3 games I heard on the radio on my way into work today.

In the series, with all the shots/shot attempts the Wild have had, only 6 shot attempts have been off of rebounds.



Also, Wild have had 6 shot attempts on odd man rushes. Through 3 games. Wow!



That is a recipe for success.

Some interesting stats through 3 games I heard on the radio on my way into work today.

In the series, with all the shots/shot attempts the Wild have had, only 6 shot attempts have been off of rebounds.



Also, Wild have had 6 shot attempts on odd man rushes. Through 3 games. Wow!



That is a recipe for success.
- carcus

Blues have done a great job of bottling up the Wild's speed and Allen has stopped everything in sight and seems completely under control. It's amazing the transformation in his game.

I've also noticed how completely comfortable they seem to be able to play in a tie or one-goal nail-biter of a game and just take the chances that come to them.

They've been outplayed at times in the series but have stayed under control and just weathered the storms.


I'm hoping like heck that they can close this out and take a long break. A lot was made last year by Hitchcock about their lack of ability to close out the first two series quickly leading to them being worn down by WCF.

Blues have done a great job of bottling up the Wild's speed and Allen has stopped everything in sight and seems completely under control. It's amazing the transformation in his game.

I've also noticed how completely comfortable they seem to be able to play in a tie or one-goal nail-biter of a game and just take the chances that come to them.

They've been outplayed at times in the series but have stayed under control and just weathered the storms.


I'm hoping like heck that they can close this out and take a long break. A lot was made last year by Hitchcock about their lack of ability to close out the first two series quickly leading to them being worn down by WCF.
- bcallaway

Finishing a series is a tough thing to do but it is key for this team to get as much rest as possible.

Plus having two days off before Saturday just prolongs things

Stastny skating at practice today.....I would not mind if he sits out wednesday. This essentially will buy him at least a few more days with thursday/friday off and could potentially get him an extra week and a half off if the blues can finish the series up tomorrow night.