It is clear that this year's Wild team is nothing like last year's version. Last night marked the fourth time the Wild have given up 6 or more goals in a game, all road losses. Last season the Wild gave up 6 goals only once and that came way back in October 2016 in Brooklyn against the Islanders.
Last year the Wild were one of the better road teams finishing with a 22-13-6 record away from the Xcel Energy Center. This year that has been quite the opposite as they are now 9-14-1 and still must play 17 of their final 33 on the road.
Now if we dig a little deeper the Wild road woes actually began last March where the team went 3-7-1 to end the season and then 1-1 on the road in the playoffs. So that is a combined road record 13-22-2 for the Wild since the beginning of March 2017.
This isn't something new but it is alarming and if things don't change in a hurry, the Wild will find themselves on the outside looking in come game 82.
In these lopsided Wild losses the common denominator is their opponent (St. Louis 6-3, Winnipeg 7-2, Colorado 7-2, Pittsburgh 6-3) has played a much faster game than have the Wild. In each of these games the Wild got outplayed, outworked, and outhustled, but the most alarming trend in each game was the lack of speed in the Wild game.
Speed used to be a staple of the Minnesota Wild, that is an element that is missing with this team and if they are going to compete they have to figure out a way to get up on their toes and play the game at a faster pace.
When the Wild try to play a fancy game and look for the perfect pass or get into the exact right position to shoot the puck they are a below average team. When they shoot the puck and create opportunities with the shot they are a much better team and the results at the end of the day are more reflective of the talent that has been assembled here.
Half way through the 3rd period the Wild had 15 shots on goal, against a rookie goaltender playing in his 6th NHL game. The plan should have been to make Casey DeSmith see as much rubber as the Wild could throw at him and from everywhere on the ice. But somehow the Wild thought that they could skate with the Pens and play a similar game. They found out in a hurry that wasn't going to work.
When they did finally start shooting the puck they did manage to pop in 3 goals, of course that was after Pittsburgh had built a 6-0 lead and they were merely going through the motions. But the simple fact is good things happen when you shoot the puck.
After the game Kyle Rau and Joel Eriksson Ek were sent back to Iowa. Now they may both very well likely be recalled once the All-Star break is over, but maybe Chuck Fletcher has something else up his sleeve.
The Blues placed Magnus Paajarvi on waivers yesterday when they activated Jaden Schwartz. Could Fletcher be looking to claim Paajarvi, the Blues OT hero last April in Game 5 at the Xcel Energy Center? Paajarvi has played in 44 games this season for the Blues with 2 goals and 4 points. His offense or lack there of this season, has been an issue but the 6'3" 208 lb winger is very good in his own zone and the former 2009, 10th overall pick of the Oilers does bring some offensive skill.
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