WildHBcommunity: Huge Opportunity to Continue Playoff Push Tonight
The Avalanche are in Town Tonight in Huge Rivalry Game
I will be the first to admit I believed this 2014-15 Minnesota Wild was buried too deep to dig itself out this season. Credit the players for getting their hearts and minds in order to muster up the energy and effort that has fueled a four game winning streak.
What comes next will be so compelling because each of these next three games will be against teams ahead of them in the Western Conference playoff picture. Four of the next five games will be at the Excel Energy Center split up with a trip across the border to Winnipeg.
The Avalanche come in to the X having played 52 games this season with a record of 22-19-11 55 points. The Avs are currently struggling on the power play having gone without a goal in 22 chances. The Avs are 4-3-3 in the last 10 games so tonight I would expect them to be scrambling to get a victory putting them back on track before heading to Winnipeg.
The Avs will be without talented defesemen Tyson Barrie tonight despite him making the trip. The Avs are also without their other top pair defender Erik Johnson who is currently on injured reserve. Young prospect Stefan Elliott has been filling but the defensive corps for this team is definitely depleted and vulnerable. The Avs bench boss Patrick Roy has gotten better results defensively since he abandoned that ludicrous man to man coverage scheme.
Tonight will be a lot about solving Semyon Varlamov because as he goes so does this Avs team. Varlamov has only played 32 games this season with a 14-11-7 2.55 gaa and .924 save %. I would expect the Wild to try to get to him early and often tonight at full strength and especially if they get the opportunity on the power play. This Wild lineup has been putting up huge shots on goal totals all season but more recently the quality of shots and scoring chances has been much better in my opinion.
Goalie Trio is Mess Made by Fletcher for Yeo to Deal With
Wild head coach Mike Yeo has inherited another complicated crowded goaltending situation to manage down the stretch this season not unlike was the case at this time last year. General manage Chuck Fletcher swung and missed on three goalies this season with Josh Harding, Darcy Kuemper, and Niklas Backstrom. Going forward from here Fletcher has no flexibility with Backstrom because of his age, performance, and a no move clause in his contract.
Backstrom is the franchise leader in many statistical categories for goaltenders and beyond that this is a respected guy who is very connected to the rest of this roster. Fletcher needs to approach him and work something out for the sake of the rest of the team. Backstrom's performance this season dictates that he should be on the outside looking in of the rotation between the pipes.
Fletcher for his mistakes and mis-steps trying to address the goalie position this season has also come up with another humongous big genius moment with the acquisition of Devan Dubnyk for a 2015 3rd round pick. Its very interesting to see a guy who has been on 5 teams in 2 years after being set sail by Edmonton who drafted him 14th overall in 2004, show up here going 6-1 with 3 shutouts.
Dubnyk has the keys to the car for the rest of this season and he has certainly changed the outlook and attitude I have towards this team. My esteemed colleague on the #WildWednesday Show Scott Schwietz dubbed Dubnyk the "Savior" in a tongue and cheek fashion during a broadcast from Burger Moe's to which I ridiculed him nearly immediately. Boy was I wrong on that too. So here is to you Scott for your faith in Fletcher and love for Double D!
Bottom of the Roster Always a Source of Frustration
I am very critical of Yeo for his decision making when it comes to the bottom of the roster. In the past couple season Wild fans have campaigned to get several young players added to the roster only to have their efforts thwarted by what I affectionately have labeled #YeoKnowsBest decision making process.
The best example of this #YeoKnowsBest has been his insistence on defaulting to Stephane "Steve" Veilleux as the first callup from the AHL. This season that has not been the case thankfully but Veilleux has been replaced in the heart and mind of Yeo by Nate Prosser. For whatever reason Yeo can not let go of an under performing Prosser which would allow for Christian Folin to get in the lineup.
I make no bones about it in being a huge believer and advocate of Folin dating back to very early rumors he would sign with an NHL team after his season with UMASS-LOWELL ended. Folin adds size and skill to the blue line for the Wild so it is puzzling to see him omitted from the lineup in favor of a player limited in potential in what is sure to be his last season in Minnesota.
Yeo has mentioned that he doesnt want to play Folin with fellow young defensemen Mathew Dumba but I wonder why not shake up the pairings and mix them in?
I get it that Ryan Suter and Jonas Brodin have played well together but to be honest both of those guys have played well with other Wild Top 4 defenders Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon. I would really love to see Suter with Dumba and Brodin paired with Folin. The ability to have 3 well complimented pairings would only strengthen the Wild's opportunities in both ends. Time to get these young defenders involved before playoffs start in my opinion.
It doesn't sound like Fletcher will be looking to make a major move at the trade deadline and with them having to carry 3 goalies on the roster, this is the group that Yeo needs to ready for the post season.
Another player I would love to be added to the roster sooner rather than later is young center Tyler Graovac who has been the best player on the Baby Wild this year. He certainly is far from a polished finished product but that kid can play in both ends and his addition could really create some mismatches on the 4th line.
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