Brad Ratgen: Wild vs Kings Review. Wild vs Ducks Preview. A look back at Game 1 against the Kings and a look ahead to Game 2, tonight, against the Ducks.

Then again, don’t give too much credit to Quick or the Kings. Quick was awful in the first period in my opinion and the Kings were ripe for the taking here early in the season.
- Brad Ratgen

I disagree. I thought Quick was the difference in the game - thought he kept the Kings in it in the first two periods with several very good saves.

I like the movement the Wild had on the power play. They seemed to be moving more and creating passing lanes. Something to build on instead of what I thought was a motionless, stagnant power play last year.

I disagree. I thought Quick was the difference in the game - thought he kept the Kings in it in the first two periods with several very good saves.

I like the movement the Wild had on the power play. They seemed to be moving more and creating passing lanes. Something to build on instead of what I thought was a motionless, stagnant power play last year.
- Chinaski

I thought he was vunerable up high and then the Wild made him look all world down low, which he is (all world, down low). What do you look for tonight? Another loss at home may well send some/most of the fan base into a tizzy which, given how last season ended, may not be unjustified, at least in part.

Thought for the first time in a very long time that they looked very very confident moving the puck and doing so with great efficiency.

In fact, I don't remember the last time I saw a Wild squad that just looked naturally good(for lack of a better word) skating with and dishing around the bisquit.

Thought the Wild outplayed and outhustled the Kings from start to finish with really only a couple lapses, one in which led to the tying goal in the 3rd.

I also thought Quick was absolutely the difference in the Wild losing in a SO vs winning outright. So many quality chances for the Wild that he just black holed away.

Regardless of squandering their first win of the season, I thought they looked good. Personally I liked what I saw.

I thought he was vunerable up high and then the Wild made him look all world down low, which he is (all world, down low). What do you look for tonight? Another loss at home may well send some/most of the fan base into a tizzy which, given how last season ended, may not be unjustified, at least in part.
- Brad Ratgen

That's the book on Quick - terrific taking away the bottom of the net so you have to shoot high. I thought they should have done less group crashing of the net and had a guy back out a bit - you need to be a bit away from the net to get clean shots high on a guy like that.

I look for a win tonight. I think a loss is far from catastrophic but it might not be to this team's psyche.

The one thing I thought I noticed on Thursday is that this team really feels extra pressure at home to score and it may be they get too tense to execute well. An unsuccessful homestand to start the season may be a hit to their confidence and turn into a detriment. I think they need to relax. A road trip might be what gets this team going.

I actually started laughing at that last minute or 30 seconds where the Brodziak line was wreaking a bunch of havoc. There seemed to be a point where 3 or four players were skating around and whacking at the puck and nobody touched it.

Thought for the first time in a very long time that they looked very very confident moving the puck and doing so with great efficiency.

In fact, I don't remember the last time I saw a Wild squad that just looked naturally good(for lack of a better word) skating with and dishing around the bisquit.

- MnGump

Good observation. I agree - just looked different from what I'm used to seeing.

Loved the first 2 periods, 3rd not so much. Players from both sides did appear to tire down the stretch, but the Wild also seemed content with a 1 goal lead, which they sure enough gave up.

Did I call it or what? Having to come from behind and they did. Wild have always played better when down versus when they have the lead.