Dan Wallace: Wild Get Their First Look at Matthews Tonight

Tough loss for sure, but at times to be expected this season with the Leafs being the

Youngest team in the NHL. Last night their lack of depth on defense and a couple of

Unlucky bounces cost them the two points. Andersen played quite well for most of the

game , but he was hung out to dry once/twice. Babcock will use this game as a

major teaching/ learning moment for the whole club. On ward & upward for the

Leafs, and the Wild appear to be on the way to a better season as well.

I'm curious to see how the Wild handle the Leafs speed/skill up front tonight and if the defense might be able to exploit a young lineup with the transition game. I think the Leafs could be a handful for the Wild tonight.

I'm curious to see how the Wild handle the Leafs speed/skill up front tonight and if the defense might be able to exploit a young lineup with the transition game. I think the Leafs could be a handful for the Wild tonight.
- Chinaski

If they can hold Matthews at bay with the Haula line I think Staal should hanlde Kadri ok... The second line of Bozak against Koivu should be an interesting matchup.

as long as dubs doesn't give up any soft goals it should be an easy 2 pts.. the leafs will be good eventually but they aren't yet.. they have problems in net and in their own end, typical young team..

maybe it won't be an easy 2 pts just saw rielly is in for dumba.. rielly has looked terrible so far..

"Wild Record (2-1-0 0 pts)" doesn't that mean you have 4 points?

maybe it won't be an easy 2 pts just saw rielly is in for dumba.. rielly has looked terrible so far..
- gopherwildfan

Rielly plays for us...

Should be a fun game! Good luck to both!

maybe it won't be an easy 2 pts just saw rielly is in for dumba.. rielly has looked terrible so far..
- gopherwildfan

Agreed. Don't get it

Well they look gloriously flat thus far...

Well they look gloriously flat thus far...
- mnhockeyguy

yeah.. they haven't had a good first yet.. then again it's only game 4

yeah.. they haven't had a good first yet.. then again it's only game 4
- gopherwildfan

This coming out flat in the first goes back to last season too... if I remember correctly?

rielly still looks terrible.. and folin can't cover for him.. why are they together?? folin doesn't take that holding penalty if rielly doesn't fumble the won faceoff right to his stick

staal for 3.5 a year

staal for 3.5 a year
- gopherwildfan

staal for 3.5 a year
- gopherwildfan

Value!

If they can hold Matthews at bay with the Haula line I think Staal should hanlde Kadri ok... The second line of Bozak against Koivu should be an interesting matchup.
- mnhockeyguy

I thought they had a lot of trouble on the breakout. It seemed like most of the defensemen were just getting rid of it quick around the boards to avoid the forecheck pressure and the Leafs were cutting those off pretty regularly. Some of the guys trying to skate it out got caught and tied up with the forechecking forward. It's something they need to get better at - dealing with these speedier teams. The league is definitely trending in that direction.

I thought they had a lot of trouble on the breakout. It seemed like most of the defensemen were just getting rid of it quick around the boards to avoid the forecheck pressure and the Leafs were cutting those off pretty regularly. Some of the guys trying to skate it out got caught and tied up with the forechecking forward. It's something they need to get better at - dealing with these speedier teams. The league is definitely trending in that direction.
- Chinaski

And the irony is they were one of the faster teams in the league last season. But some additions and subtractions have made them into more of an average team speed wise. Some of that was also probably due to having both Dumba and Reilly in the lineup simultaneously...

I thought they had a lot of trouble on the breakout. It seemed like most of the defensemen were just getting rid of it quick around the boards to avoid the forecheck pressure and the Leafs were cutting those off pretty regularly. Some of the guys trying to skate it out got caught and tied up with the forechecking forward. It's something they need to get better at - dealing with these speedier teams. The league is definitely trending in that direction.
- Chinaski

rielly and folin together, spurgeon's early exit and scandella being sick would give most teams problems on their ability to breakout..

And the irony is they were one of the faster teams in the league last season. But some additions and subtractions have made them into more of an average team speed wise. Some of that was also probably due to having both Dumba and Reilly in the lineup simultaneously...
- mnhockeyguy

But I don't think they have a lot of guys who think the game fast and that's what they need more of to contend with less time to make a play. They do have guys who can skate fast but that doesn't always translate into playing well at a fast pace.

But I do probably have to give it some time this season. Much of this could be a product of getting more comfortable with how Boudreau wants them to play. It will probably take a couple of months before we see what they can really do.