Dan Wallace: Wild Must Be Better: Jets Will Be

good blog Dan, represents Wild hockey and fan base well.

I think the Myers/Foligno thing is posturing too, however, today's blog doesn't describe what the fuss is about very well. During the awkward fall by Foligno following the blocked shot attempt the slow motion replay appears to show Foligno failing to brace himself for impact with the ice, twisting and delivering a punch to Myers' knee causing injury.
Maurice played up the incident, Foligno and Wheeler both indicated that Myers and Foligno are good friends and that the incident was just an awkward hockey thing.
I don't think this will cause any escalation of the rivalry.
Should be a good game tonight, really looking forward to it.

(frank) Maurice, he doesn't seem to have an issue with any of the malicious and cheap shots Byfuglien has dished out. off the top of my head, Beagle slash to the ribs, Pominville dirty hit from behind, Reimer cheap shot to the head, JT Miller crosscheck to the back of the head, Stone put in the hospital with malicious body check... and that's just the tip of the ice berg. I dont' care what anyone says, he's a cheap shot artist plain and simple.

If Foligno deserves a suspension for that compeletly ambigious play on Myers, then Byfuglien deserves a ban from the NHL.

I have a feeling this game decides the series. If the Wild win and go back tied 2 games a piece, then I think they'll win the series. If they lose tonight, they lose in 5.

(frank) Maurice, he doesn't seem to have an issue with any of the malicious and cheap shots Byfuglien has dished out. off the top of my head, Beagle slash to the ribs, Pominville dirty hit from behind, Reimer cheap shot to the head, JT Miller crosscheck to the back of the head, Stone put in the hospital with malicious body check... and that's just the tip of the ice berg. I dont' care what anyone says, he's a cheap shot artist plain and simple.

If Foligno deserves a suspension for that compeletly ambigious play on Myers, then Byfuglien deserves a ban from the NHL.
- MJLjr

Like I said, it is mostly posturing by Maurice - he doesn't really believe it was malicious either.

On Byfuglien - he has been suspended once, never fined. The suspension for the Miller crosscheck you mention. When it gets down to it his biggest issue is that he is bigger and stronger than the rest. When he hits, it hurts. The Stone check was clean as was check on Bowmeester and Gazdic. Not many players with as many hits have as clean a record. The last player with a combo of strength/skill like him wore an orange #88. People didn't like him for being good either.

Well, that hurts not having Parise....a lot. I just wish it was someone other than Ennis coming in. Where is Zack Mitchell? I would feel comfortable with Foligno moving to 3rd line, and Mitchell or even Justin Kloos playing 4th line minutes. But it looks like Ennis will just replace Parise on the Koivu line and have the Jets players carry the puck right through him. Whatever line gets Ennis on it (I cannot see BB playing Ennis on the Koivu line, as that line is supposed to be a shut down line). And if he moves Zucker back with Koivu, Staal and Granlund have to work even harder to score. The only place I can see Ennis being somewhat effective is on the 3rd line and moving Greenway up to play with Staal and Granlund.

What are the odds that Byfuglien mashes Ennis into the corner, comes back out and all there is left in the corner is a gooey, red, white and green puddle left there.

According to the Athletic's Michael Russo, Zach Parise fractured his sternum in Game 3 and is out for the foreseeable future
- Dan Wallace

Wow. Well that probably changes things a bit. Damn. Would be nice to get through one post season without losing key players.

Wonder if we'll hear Maurice calling for the suspensions of Scheifele and Chiarot?

Wow. Well that probably changes things a bit. Damn. Would be nice to get through one post season without losing key players.

Wonder if we'll hear Maurice calling for the suspensions of Scheifele and Chiarot?
- MnGump

they were just bracing themselves as they fell

they were just bracing themselves as they fell
- Ross77

Wait, not funny....

they were just bracing themselves as they fell
- Ross77

Zing!

Well, that hurts not having Parise....a lot. I just wish it was someone other than Ennis coming in. Where is Zack Mitchell? I would feel comfortable with Foligno moving to 3rd line, and Mitchell or even Justin Kloos playing 4th line minutes. But it looks like Ennis will just replace Parise on the Koivu line and have the Jets players carry the puck right through him. Whatever line gets Ennis on it (I cannot see BB playing Ennis on the Koivu line, as that line is supposed to be a shut down line). And if he moves Zucker back with Koivu, Staal and Granlund have to work even harder to score. The only place I can see Ennis being somewhat effective is on the 3rd line and moving Greenway up to play with Staal and Granlund.

What are the odds that Byfuglien mashes Ennis into the corner, comes back out and all there is left in the corner is a gooey, red, white and green puddle left there.
- Gusrichards

To this I agree. I would rather have Kyle Rau, Kloos, Mitchell, or anybody over 6ft for this series, a shot over Ennis. Maybe move Greenway up to that line? I believe that line was working well at the end of the season with Greenway still been green behind the ears. Zach was playin so well too...

a mere 60 minutes from potentially tying the series and one could argue taking control at the same time while getting in the head of those Jets

Wow! I'm all for letting them play but WTF?!!!

For Christ's sake! If that's not a suspendable cross check then what the hell is??? And Jet's fans are still screaming about Foligno!? My God.

For Christ's sake! If that's not a suspendable cross check then what the hell is??? And Jet's fans are still screaming about Foligno!? My God.
- Isojoki

it was a 2 min penalty, he was clearly going for the shoulder and like we had to read with Foligno after he targeted Trouba's head and knee punched Myers, if there's no intent, there's no suspension.

if hes suspended it would be a joke call on the nhl, staal didn't even go to the quiet room, or miss a shift.

it was a 2 min penalty, he was clearly going for the shoulder and like we had to read with Foligno after he targeted Trouba's head and knee punched Myers, if there's no intent, there's no suspension.

if hes suspended it would be a joke call on the nhl, staal didn't even go to the quiet room, or miss a shift.
- Ross77

What an unbelievably stupid reply.

it was a 2 min penalty, he was clearly going for the shoulder and like we had to read with Foligno after he targeted Trouba's head and knee punched Myers, if there's no intent, there's no suspension.

if hes suspended it would be a joke call on the nhl, staal didn't even go to the quiet room, or miss a shift.
- Ross77

The point is that the wild should have had a 5 on 3 there. Instead the Wild go down 1 - 0. Not saying they get a definite goal but either way that non call certainly changed the course of the game. That being said that was a terrible and obvious blown call.

The point is that the wild should have had a 5 on 3 there. Instead the Wild go down 1 - 0. Not saying they get a definite goal but either way that non call certainly changed the course of the game. That being said that was a terrible and obvious blown call.
- MnGump

yes, this i can agree with, i said it should have been a 2 min penalty

did anyone else see Nino stand up and clearly head but Chairot? I guess because Chairot didnt flop down no one will bring it up

The loss of Parise cannot be quantified. This squad just can't survive without their 2 best players.

yes, this i can agree with, i said it should have been a 2 min penalty

did anyone else see Nino stand up and clearly head but Chairot? I guess because Chairot didnt flop down no one will bring it up
- Ross77

It could have been worse. At least Nino didn't punch him in the back of the leg.

Let's wrap this poop up, I'm ready to focus on hunting season

#firefletcher

6 consecutive playoff appearances, 2 series wins. 2013-2014 2nd round loss in 6, 2014-2015 loss in 4. Time to move on