WildHBcommunity: Minnesota Wild Players in Olympics Schedule & Expectations
Minnesota Wild Represented in Sochi 2014
Even with Kaptain Koivu on the mend choosing to continue to recuperate instead of risking further injury leading Team Finland in Sochi, the Minnesota Wild is still represented in what could be the last olympics to have NHLers in competition. Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Mikael Granlund, and Nino Niederreiter will all represent their home countries in important roles playing top line and top pairing minutes.
I still believe Jonas Brodin should have been selected for Team Sweden who chose to go with defenders with more experience also snubbing Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman as well. Brodin and Hedman would have been a perfectly matched pairing in Sochi. There is no doubt in my mind that both could have competed with the best in the world this year.
Parise and Suter will lead Team USA into battle Thursday February 13th at 630am CT on NBCSHD versus Team Slovakia who is well represented with NHL players. Team USA has to focus in on this one despite their large matchup looming with the host nation Team Russia on Saturday February 15th at 630am CT. I think Team USA can emerge victorious in these two tough matchups but both will be highly contested. The pressure is definitely on Team Russia this year in their home country and Saturday morning will be a huge momentum game for both nations.
Wild's Breakout Young Forwards on Display For Home Countries in Sochi
Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter will both play important roles for Team Finland and Switzerland respectively this year in Sochi. Both young Wild forwards have been assigned to the top line as wingers. Granlund and Niederreiter both have enjoyed breakout NHL season this year with Minnesota after both had struggled to have their international success translate to the NHL game.
Both of these young forwards represent the future for their home countries and the Wild. I am excited for both these guys as they get the opportunity to showcase their development and growth on the international stage. Granlund is a rock star in Finland and will get the opportunity to skate on the same ice as the Teemu Selanne who is in his farewell tour with Team Finland and the Anaheim Ducks this year. Granlund has been masterful with the puck finding his favorite shooter Jason Pominville everywhere on the ice this season.
Niederreiter arrived in Minnesota with a highlight reel and hype after failing to lauch with the Islanders organization. The "KnightRider" has been nothing but humble and hardworking since first taking the ice for the Wild. Niederreiter has proven to be extremely complimentary in his game choosing to defer often with the puck in the early going this season. He has recently turned up his aggressiveness with the puck which has been a point of emphasis from the coaching staff. Nino will be showcased with the Swiss team and I know he will respond.
Feb. 12 – Czech Republic vs. Sweden (USA, noon ET) - Latvia vs. Switzerland (MSNBC, noon ET)Feb. 13 – Finland vs. Austria (NBCSN, 3:00 a.m. ET) - Russia vs. Slovenia (MSNBC, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Slovakia vs. United States (NBCSN, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Canada vs. Norway (USA, noon ET)
Feb. 14 – Czech Republic vs. Latvia (MSNBC, 3:00 a.m. ET) - Sweden vs. Switzerland (NBCSN, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Canada vs. Austria (USA, noon ET) - Norway vs. Finland (MSNBC, noon ET)
Feb. 15 – Slovakia vs. Slovenia (NBCSN, 3:00 a.m. ET) - United States vs. Russia (NBCSN, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Switzerland vs. Czech Republic (NBCSN, noon ET) - Sweden vs. Latvia (USA, noon ET)
Feb. 16 – Austria vs. Norway (USA, 3:00 a.m. ET) - Russia vs. Slovakia (USA, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Slovenia vs. United States (NBCSN, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Finland vs. Canada (USA, noon ET)
Feb. 18 – Qualification game 1 (TBD, 3:00 a.m. ET) - Qualification game 2 (TBD, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Qualification game 3 (TBD, noon ET) - Qualification game 4 (TBD, noon ET)
Feb. 19 – Quarterfinals game 1 (TBD, 3:00 a.m. ET) - Quarterfinals game 2 (TBD, 7:30 a.m. ET) - Quarterfinals game 3 (TBD, noon ET) - Quarterfinals game 4 (TBD, noon ET)
Feb. 21 – Semifinals game 1 (TBD, 7:00 a.m. ET) - Semifinals game 2 (TBD, noon ET)
Feb. 22 – Bronze medal game (TBD, 10:00 a.m. ET)
Feb. 23 – Gold medal game – (TBD, 7:00 a.m. ET)
Here are Line Combinations
Canada Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Jeff Carter Patrick Sharp – Jonathan Toews – Rick Nash Patrick Marleau – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry Jamie Benn – John Tavares – Patrice Bergeron USA James van Riemsdyk – Joe Pavelski – Phil Kessel Zach Parise – David Backes – T.J. Oshie Dustin Brown – Ryan Kesler – Patrick Kane Ryan Callahan – Paul Stastny – Max Pacioretty Sweden Gabriel Landeskog – Henrik Zetterberg – Alex Steen Daniel Sedin – Nicklas Backstrom – Loui Eriksson Gustav Nyquist – Patrik Berglund – Daniel Alfredsson Carl Hagelin – Marcus Kruger – Jimmy Ericsson Russia Alexander Ovechkin – Evgeni Malkin – Alex Semin Ilya Kovalchuk – Pavel Datsyuk – Alexander Radulov Vladimir Tarasenko – Artem Anisimov – Nikolai Kulemin Viktor Tikhonov – Alexei Tereshenko – Alexander Popov Finland Mikael Granlund – Aleksander Barkov – Teemu Selanne Lauri Korpikoski – Olli Jokinen – Tuomo Ruutu Jussi Jokinen – Petri Kontiola – Juhamatti Aaltonen Leo Komarov – Jarkko Immonen – Jori Lehtera Slovakia Tomas Tatar - Michal Handzus - Marian Hossa Marcel Hossa - Tomas Surovy - Tomas Kopecky Tomas Jurco - Tomas Marcinko - Richard Panik Milan Bartovic - Tomas Zaborsky - Michel Miklik
Just My Take, Tony Dean
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