MNWild: Wild Looking to Bag Up Some Leafs at the X.
I have returned from a trip I have affectionately decided to label the Nightmare on Bourbon Street. About everything that could go wrong did go wrong but we laughed most of it off. It is good to be home despite the brisk reminder that Minnesota will be brutal cold this winter. I was hoping in my absence someone would be “Minnesota Nice… and rake my leaves for me but no dice. Tonight the Wild (10-4-4 24Points) play host to the Maple Leafs (10-6-0 22Points) at the X.
In the last meeting between these teams, the Maple Leafs ended the Wild’s three game win streak in regulation 4-1 in Toronto on October 15th. The Wild found their offense stifled by netminder James Reimer who stopped 37 of 38 shots. The loss in Toronto for the Wild was the first of three in a row on the road creating a bit of unrest despite strong efforts from the team and a consistency in their play. The Wild will play their next three games at home after winning four of their last five games. Toronto arrives in Minnesota having lost two of their last three games including the opening game of their current road trip 3-1 in Boston.
Tonight will be Wisconsin native former Gopher Phil Kessel’s 300th career NHL game, he is currently on a tear for the Maple Leafs with 10 goals and 19 points in 17 games. The Maple Leafs have been trying out their big winger James Van Riemsdyk at the center position in the absence of center Dave Bolland who is out of the lineup with a significant ankle injury. Also for Toronto young talented defender Jake Gardiner who played for the Badgers and is a native Minnesotan will be playing in the X for the first time in his NHL career.
The Wild have drawn Jonathan Bernier for tonight’s matchup with Reimer getting the night off. The Maple Leafs out maneuvered the Wild this past offseason for the opportunity to put Bernier between the pipes. The LA Kings selected Bernier with the 11th overall selection in the 2006 draft but with the emergence of Jonathan Quick it became apparent they would have to make one of the young goaltenders available on the trade market. Toronto provided a return of goalie Ben Scrivens, left wing Matt Frattin, and a second round draft pick. At different points this year Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher has been candid about having negotiated with the Kings with regard to Bernier despite not reaching an agreement leaving Wild fans to wonder what could have been especially given how Niklas Backstrom has struggled early on this year.
After missing on Bernier, Fletcher resigned veteran backstop Backstrom to a three year deal this offseason. I think anyone that has followed the Wild and Backstrom understands he has been known to be very streaky with his success between the pipes. During the past three seasons there have been extended stretches where Backstrom dominated played and carried the Wild to victories no matter the talent level around him. Now with the performance of Josh Harding, Backstrom has seemingly been eclipsed as the Wild’s top option in net. Still Backstrom needs to find a way to refocus his game and hopefully that happens tonight on home ice versus a very offensively capable Maple Leafs squad.
The success and potency of Mikael Granlund with Jason Pominville has carried the Wild to multiple victories in the last six games and has the rest of the NHL on alert. Granlund is flashing the talent and all world potential that saw him become the most popular young player in Finland and top prospect in the world before his arrival in North America. Although Granlund stumbled last year in his debut, his ability to address his shortcomings speaks louder in my opinion than any concern about his abilities past or present. Pominville will probably always be underrated for his abilities but since being paired on the second line with Granlund the duo has combined to lead the Wild in goals and scoring. Pominville is a player with great awareness of the game and probably is place holding the shooter spot on the second line until Thomas Vanek(presumably) arrives this summer. Still Pominville if he can sustain could earn his way back on to Team USA for the Olympics despite being slighted early this year.
Individual Leaders Toronto Maple Leafs Minnesota Wild Points: P. KESSEL (19),J. VAN RIEMSDYK (13),N. KADRI (13) Z. PARISE (15),J. POMINVILLE (14),M. KOIVU (12) Goals: P. KESSEL (10),J. LUPUL (8),J. VAN RIEMSDYK (7) J. POMINVILLE (11),Z. PARISE (8),J. FONTAINE (6) Assists: C. FRANSON (10),P. KESSEL (9),N. KADRI (8) R. SUTER (11),M. KOIVU (10),M. GRANLUND (10) PP Goals: P. KESSEL (3),J. LUPUL (2),J. VAN RIEMSDYK (2) Z. PARISE (5),J. POMINVILLE (3),D. HEATLEY (2) SH Goals: P. RANGER (1),D. BOLLAND (1),J. VAN RIEMSDYK (1) GW Goals: P. KESSEL (3),D. BOLLAND (2),M. RAYMOND (2) J. POMINVILLE (3),M. COOKE (2),Z. PARISE (2) 3+ Goals: P. KESSEL(1) PIM: C. ORR (51),D. CLARKSON (23),F. MCLAREN (21) Z. KONOPKA (32),C. STONER (20),N. PROSSER (19) Shots: P. KESSEL (64),J. LUPUL (56),M. RAYMOND (43) Z. PARISE (79),J. POMINVILLE (57),M. KOIVU (44) +/-: D. PHANEUF (+9),J. VAN RIEMSDYK (+7),P. KESSEL (+6) J. POMINVILLE (+8),M. COOKE (+7),K. BALLARD (+6)
Last Game –Wild 3 at Hurricanes 2 (SO): Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Jason Pominville all scored in the shootout to lift the Wild to a 3-2 victory Saturday night in North Carolina. Pominville opened the game’s scoring with his 200th career goal, and Justin Fontaine also scored in regulation for the Wild, while Josh Harding made 27 saves to earn the victory in net. Next Games (all times Central) 11/15 vs. FLA 7 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM 11/17 vs. WPG 7 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM 11/19 at MTL 6:30 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM CURRENT WILD INJURIES D Clayton Stoner –1 game (lower body) D Keith Ballard (IR) –2 games (upper body) LW Mike Rupp (IR) –18 games (lower body) TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 48 Recent Transactions 11/12 –Assigned F Mike Rupp to Iowa (AHL) on conditioning loan and placed D Keith Ballard on Injured Reserve All-Time Wild Record: 3-8-0 (2-2-0 at Xcel Energy Center) 2013-14: The Maple Leafs won the first meeting, 4-1 at Air Canada Centre (10/15)…RW Jason Pominville scored for Minnesota from C Mikko Koivu and LW Zach Parise…G Darcy Kuemper started his first game of the season and allowed three goals on seven shots before being replaced in the second period by G Josh Harding, who stopped all six shots faced in his first career action against Toronto…D Cody Franson (0-2=2), LW Mason Raymond (2-0=2) and D Morgan Rielly (0-2=2) led the Leafs with two points apiece…G James Reimer earned the win with 36 saves. WILD LEADERS: LW Dany Heatley has 51 points (27-24=51) in 41 games against the Maple Leafs, tied for his most points vs. any team...Pominville owns 49 points (19-30=49) in 51 contests, his highest total against any team...Parise has 18 points (10-8=18) in 25 contests. WILD GOALIES: G Niklas Backstrom is 2-2-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .915 SV% in four starts vs. Toronto...Harding faced six shots in his first career appearance. MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS: D Dion Phaneuf has 16 points (7-9=16) in 34 games against the Wild...D Jean-Michael Liles owns 16 points (6-10=16), in 46 contests...C Dave Bolland has 11 points (5-6=11) in 17 games. MAPLE LEAFS GOALIES: G Jonathan Bernier is 3-1-2 with a 1.14 GAA, a .953 SV% and three shutouts in six career starts...G James Reimer is 2-0-0 with a 0.50 GAA, .985 SV% and one shutout in two career starts against Minnesota. CONNECTIONS: Darby Hendrickson was selected by Toronto in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft and skated in 233 games with the Maple Leafs (1994-99)...RW Phil Kessel played one season for the University of Minnesota (2005-06)...D Jake Gardiner is from Minnetonka. FAST FACTS: The Wild has scored one goal or less in seven of its eight all-time losses to the Maple Leafs...In its three wins, Minnesota has outscored Toronto 16-6...Three of Bernier’s seven career shutouts have come against the Wild…Toronto’s four games played at Xcel Energy Center are the fewest by any team.
Wild 3 Keys to Victory
1.The Wild need to solve Bernier early and make good on power play chances. This team has created offense and controlled the puck versus just about every team they have faced this season to include this Maple Leafs team despite losing in Toronto. The Wild needs to be rewarded as it helps to motivate them to sustain the pressure.
2.The defensive pairing need to identify the shooter for Toronto tonight on the rush and when the Maple Leafs setup in the offensive zone. Backstrom has not been sharp and he will need a strong effort in front of him making sure he can track the puck. Have to identify where Kessel is at all times.
3.This team is going to live and die with the young forwards and thus far Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Nino Niedrreiter, and Justin Fontaine have been up to the task. Tonight for the Wild to defeat this Maple leafs squad those four young forwards will need to be aggressive and decisive with their play in the offensive end. The thing that is so interesting about this current Wild team especially the young players is how bought in they are to this Yeo system in both ends of the ice.
Just My Take, Tony Dean @AWKD