Brad Ratgen: Gameday: Wild-Blackhawks; Thoughts From Last Night's Win Too A look back at last night's win and a look ahead against tonight's game with the Blackhawks for the Minnesota Wild.

Brad Ratgen: Gameday: Wild-Blackhawks; Thoughts From Last Night's Win Too
A look back at last night's win and a look ahead against tonight's game with the Blackhawks for the Minnesota Wild.
- Brad Ratgen

Good game and glad to see P-M Bouchard can still play despite his history of concussions.

I think this game is going to really get ugly on the Wild's end. Played last night + amazing Chicago team = 5-1 loss.

Yeah, for whatever the reason, St. Louis fans seem to be outraged that the Wild got a chance to sign both Suter and Parise. And although they are ridiculously huge contracts, still not sure why Blues fans take umbrage with the Wild organization every chance they get over the signings whilst continually reminding everyone how their organization does it without breaking the bank so to speak.

As far as last nights game, Jackets played a tough 3rd period and once again the Wild could not bring a solid full 3 periods to put their opponents away. A theme that has haunted the Wild organization for years now. One can only hope that last night was a stepping stone for the 2nd thru 4th lines coming together and stepping up their play a bit to make this roster a more complete team. Goal tending was once again dicey at times for Backstrom. I can only assume Harding will be in net tonight and let's hope he can improve exponentially coming off that last start against the Wings.

It seems from reading posts in the Hawks thread that most of their fans are already looking past tonights game, which jumping out to a perfect 6 - 0 record seems natural to some extent. But hopefully the Wild can show up with a solid 3 periods and hand the Hawks their first loss. The Wild played the Hawks pretty tough last season getting 2 wins of the 4 game series in the last month of a what turned out to be a horrible second half for the Wild. So I don't think for a second that coming out with a win tonight is unthinkable by any stretch of the imagination. I think goal tending will be the key tonight, if Harding (or Backs) can stand on his head and shut down the highly explosive offense of the Hawks, the Wild should have a very good chance to spoil their perfect record.

Easier said then done of course.

I dont think people really care how you rebuild. Just point out the fact that the rebuilds the two teams have gone through aren't identical.

And yes, it is nice to be able and go out and spend whatever you want whenever you want.

I think this game is going to really get ugly on the Wild's end. Played last night + amazing Chicago team = 5-1 loss.
- Nsjohn130

Wild fans obviously have reason to be skeptical of tonights match up, but simply put, 3 of last years 4 games vs Chicago ended in a shoot out. The Wild had much less fire power and a few key players injured during that span of games winning the last 2. Granted the Hawks are clearly on an influential roll to start the season, but I don't think there is any reason to believe the Wild will lose in blow out fasion. Personally I think it will be a close game. 4 - 3 or maybe 5 - 3 with an empty netter in favor of Chicago.

Wild fans obviously have reason to be skeptical of tonights match up, but simply put, 3 of last years 4 games vs Chicago ended in a shoot out. The Wild had much less fire power and a few key players injured during that span of games winning the last 2. Granted the Hawks are clearly on an influential roll to start the season, but I don't think there is any reason to believe the Wild will lose in blow out fasion. Personally I think it will be a close game. 4 - 3 or maybe 5 - 3 with an empty netter in favor of Chicago.
- MnGump

This Hawk team is basically the same as last years team, only mostly healthy, and our bottom six forwards are decidedly better than they were last year. Toews was overworked last year on PK, PP, and regular shifts, and playing 22 minutes for much of the season (before he got concussed). Right now, I think he's out there 18 minutes a night due to better allocation of ice time on 3rd (in particular), and 4th lines. You can see a big difference in team speed with lines 1 and 2 getting a little more rest.

I think the Hawks are what the Wild are striving to become like: 2 top-top lines with solid 3rd and 4th line contributions and 6 very solid defensemen with top goaltending.

I think the Hawks are what the Wild are striving to become like: 2 top-top lines with solid 3rd and 4th line contributions and 6 very solid defensemen with top goaltending.
- Brad Ratgen

So, just to rephrase, like the Hawks but with top goaltending?

So, just to rephrase, like the Hawks but with top goaltending?
- Mr_Clean

Looks like Crow is 6th best in the NHL currently, I'd take that in a heartbeat!

Did anyone count how many offside calls there were on the Wild in the first period?

Looks like Crow is 6th best in the NHL currently, I'd take that in a heartbeat!
- Brad Ratgen

The sample is still too small. Crawford needs to emerge, and Hawks fans are nervous about him.

BTW, how impressive has Brodin looked?! This kid is 19 years old and looks like a seasoned & grizzled veteran after 3 NHL games. I knew this kid was good but my lord does he look impressive. Add Dumba to the mix next season and this defensive unit is going to be very formidable.

Question: Who is going to be sent down once Spurgeon returns? Prosser already an early season healthy scratch, maybe him?

The sample is still too small. Crawford needs to emerge, and Hawks fans are nervous about him.
- DirkGraham

Yeah, Craig Anderson is probably the best tender so far, but will he be at the end of the season? I severely doubt it.

Question: Who is going to be sent down once Spurgeon returns? Prosser already an early season healthy scratch, maybe him?
- MnGump

Seeing how Prosser is already in the doghouse, it's gotta be him. That leaves Falk and Kassian sitting up in the pressbox unless needed. Only issue is, Prosser was signed to 3 year one way contract last season. Stupid move by Fletch, imo.

Quoting old man wirtz, like he matters is laughable. The rivalry doesn't exist you're correct but your GM "Up" Chuck, is the epitome of the problem with the NHL. Good luck

Yeah, Craig Anderson is probably the best tender so far, but will he be at the end of the season? I severely doubt it.
- Mr_Clean

He'll be traded by the deadline. Hopefully to Chicago. Local kid done well. Robin lehner is just waiting

Quoting old man wirtz, like he matters is laughable. The rivalry doesn't exist you're correct but your GM "Up" Chuck, is the epitome of the problem with the NHL. Good luck
- york2984

Quoting old man wirtz, like he matters is laughable. The rivalry doesn't exist you're correct but your GM "Up" Chuck, is the epitome of the problem with the NHL. Good luck
- york2984

This is really quite a hypocritical statement coming from a fan of the team who bought their way to a Cup victory in 2010 and then had to unload a third of their talent because they were in such deep cap trouble. That's pure comedy gold! Tell us another fun story!

This is really quite a hypocritical statement coming from a fan of the team who bought their way to a Cup victory in 2010 and then had to unload a third of their talent because they were in such deep cap trouble. That's pure comedy gold! Tell us another fun story!
- MnGump

I didn't even want to waste the effort in pointing out how hypocritical that comment was coming from a Hawks fan. Sheesh

This is really quite a hypocritical statement coming from a fan of the team who bought their way to a Cup victory in 2010 and then had to unload a third of their talent because they were in such deep cap trouble. That's pure comedy gold! Tell us another fun story!
- MnGump

Well I'm not talking about "buying" a cup, we did. Thank you we won fine. The difference is we didn't pay 200 million to 2 guys and the claim the system is unfair because of the size of contracts. That's my point. Open your eyes and ears.

I didn't even want to waste the effort in pointing out how hypocritical that comment was coming from a Hawks fan. Sheesh
- SotaPopinski

Sorry Sota, I couldn't resist. That's almost as ironic as the (last, last and 2nd to last place respectively) Edmonton fans trash talking teams like Columbus.

Well I'm not talking about "buying" a cup, we did. Thank you we won fine. The difference is we didn't pay 200 million to 2 guys and the claim the system is unfair because of the size of contracts. That's my point. Open your eyes and ears.
- york2984

When exactly did Chuck Fletcher come out and say anything about unfairness of contract sizes? Please site your source.

Oh but I'm sure signing Hossa to a 12 year $63 million deal at the time was completely different right? Making $7.9 million for the first 7 years of the deal was ok because son of genius Scotty Bowman was responsible for that paltry signing.

Get real dude, even with those 2 ridiculously huge contracts, the Wild payroll is still only about $700,000 more this year than is the Hawks payroll. Nice try.

Congrats on the win guys. Looking forward to playing you again

Congrats on the win guys. Looking forward to playing you again
- CBHawks88

March 5th can not come soon enough. It is always great when these to teams meet. Right to the wire. Great game either way.