WildHBcommunity: Minnesota Wild Versus Red Wings for a Crucial Home and Home Series
The Minnesota Wild With a Rare Saturday Matinee in Must Win Versus Red Wings at X
The Minnesota Wild 36 - 23 - 11 (83 points) returns home after a disappointing 3 game Eastern Conference road trip. This squad has no time to dwell on missed opportunities to build a cushion between themselves and the teams on their heels in the Western Conference playoff push because the Detroit Red Wings 32 - 24 - 13 (77 points) are in town for the first game of a home and home series. The Red Wings needed two points just as badly as the Wild, are especially dangerous right now because they have a collection of young players in their injury ravaged lineup similar to what the Wild was forced to do just a couple of weeks ago. This two game series is sure to be crucial to both of these franchise's playoff outlook and as result this one should feel like a playoff matchup.
After Further Review Yeo is Either onto Something or on Something
I have been highly critical of Wild bench boss Mike Yeo's insistence on favoring underachieve veterans over talented young players when it comes to lineup decisions and roles. After some back and forth with people I respect in the MNWild content generating community, most specifically HW's Ger Devine I have changed my tune about where certain player fit and should be slotted in the Wild's line combinations.
The word was put out that Erik Haula will re-enter the Wild's lineup this evening after 2 games as a scratch. I had previously stated I believe he should be playing as 2nd Line Center between Matthew Moulson and Justin Fontaine but after further pondering it, I think Yeo is onto something putting him on the wing of Charlie Coyle and Dany Heatley. Beyond the speed and puck handling ability of Haula, his ability to interchange with Coyle in game at the center position makes me like the new look 3rd line a lot. Also with the way the Matt Cooke and Kyle Brodziak line is used specifically starting in the defense zone and playing more minutes than a traditional 4th line it serves to limit Heatley's exposure and ice time by default.
I also think Mikko Koivu will get back on track after returning from a broken ankle that was enough to keep him out of the Olympics. On the Kaptain Koivu line the pressure is now squarely on Justin Fontaine to prove he can carry the puck and show that his production in his rookie year isn't just an inflated lucky shot percentage. Fontaine is playing with line mates that require his speed and carry abilities to be the difference entering the zone and allowing them to setup a cycle which both Koivu and Moulson thrive in.
Christian Folin is the College Free Agent the Wild must Sign
The Umass-Lowell sophomore defenseman Christian Folin is a native of Sweden who came to America to play juniors first in Fargo, North Dakota and then Austin, Minnesota as a teenager. Folin is a 6'3" 210LB right shot defenseman who is very likely to sign as a NCAA free agent once his college team has their season ended. Just learning about Folin in the past week or so I have come away so impressed with this 23 year old Swede. Folin has a booming shot and very nice hands but he does his damage in the defensive zone with a strong frame and nasty disposition.
Folin is believed to be capable of competing physically at the NHL level now and his addition by the Wild would be a dynamic way to strengthen their blue line ahead of the Western Conference playoffs. Folin's combination of size/skill and a right shot would allow him to pair nicely with fellow Swede Jonas Brodin. Folin is sure to have many suitors as soon as he is able to sign an entry level deal but the Wild is heavily involved. Folin has been quoted crediting Austin Bears head coach Chris Tok for preparing him to become a player that could compete and earn a NCAA scholarship. Folin's connection to Minnesota is real now we just have to hope Fletcher and Flahr can sell the kid on choosing the Wild over other franchises!
Here is tonight's lines:
Parise-Granlund-Pominville Moulson-Koivu-Fontaine Haula-Coyle-Heatley Cooke-Brodziak-Niederreiter
Suter-Spurgeon Scandella-Brodin Prosser-Stoner
Kuemper
Individual Leaders Detroit Red Wings Minnesota Wild Points: H. ZETTERBERG (48),D. LEGWAND (45),N. KRONWALL (43) J. POMINVILLE (50),Z. PARISE (45),M. MOULSON (43) Goals: G. NYQUIST (20),D. ALFREDSSON (17),H. ZETTERBERG (16) J. POMINVILLE (26),Z. PARISE (23),M. MOULSON (20) Assists: N. KRONWALL (36),D. LEGWAND (34),H. ZETTERBERG (32) M. KOIVU (32),R. SUTER (31),M. GRANLUND (30) PP Goals: J. FRANZEN (7),T. BERTUZZI (6),P. DATSYUK (5) Z. PARISE (12),M. MOULSON (9),J. POMINVILLE (5) SH Goals: D. HELM (1),D. DEKEYSER (1) M. COOKE (1),Z. PARISE (1),E. HAULA (1) GW Goals: J. FRANZEN (4),G. NYQUIST (4),D. ALFREDSSON (3) J. POMINVILLE (5),Z. PARISE (5),M. COOKE (3) 3+ Goals: J. FRANZEN(1),G. NYQUIST(1) R. SUTER(1),J. FONTAINE(1) PIM: K. QUINCEY (76),B. SMITH (54),D. LEGWAND (49) C. STONER (80),M. COOKE (52),N. PROSSER (52) Shots: H. ZETTERBERG (151),D. ALFREDSSON (135),J. ABDELKADER (133) Z. PARISE (209),J. POMINVILLE (195),M. MOULSON (153) +/-: H. ZETTERBERG (+19),J. FRANZEN (+10),G. NYQUIST (+9) M. SCANDELLA (+12),J. SPURGEON (+10),N. NIEDERREITER (+10)
Just My Take, Tony Dean
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