MNWild: The Calm Before the Letdown?
I just have to be honest in addressing what I can sense from the State of Hockey fans and it maybe is most accurately described as anxiety mixed with bracing for impending letdown. The Minnesota Wild have met and exceeded my personal expectation during the first two months of this NHL season for whatever that is worth. I think the Wild has done very well to supplement their die-hard fan base with casual fans in arena and purchasing merchandise. The Wild organization has so many positive storylines this season that no matter the setback, they have rebuild the goodwill and faith in their product lost after the return of the NHL to Minnesota momentum had worn off here.
Just a quick look at the Wild’s next 15 opponents on the schedule leads me to wonder how many points it is reasonable to expect. Just the next six games give me the opposite of a warm and fuzzy feeling with the Wild set to take on their Central Division rival Blues in St. Louis tonight to end their 4 game road trip. Then the Wild gets Phoenix at the X before a home and home series with the red hot Avalanche. The last two of the next six will have the Flyers and Blackhawks in town to play the Wild at the X. The 9 games following those 6 I mentioned above arguably will be tougher so although there has been a lot of positivity around this squad it could get ugly quick.
I keep flashing back to that second period against the Canadiens in Montreal, the Wild was trapped in their zone being brutalized by a team able to impose their will on them with physical aggressive play while being skilled enough to make good on mistakes. That sort of description is what could be on the agenda this evening in St. Louis as the Blues are exactly equipped to pound the Wild into submission and light the lamp while doing so. I am worried that the lights in the film rooms all over the NHL will be illuminating the blueprint provided in Montreal during that second period and that there are certain Western Conference teams and a couple Eastern Conference teams on the upcoming schedule in the next 15 games capable of executing a similar style and game plan against this current Wild team.
The Blues (16-3-3 35 Points) enter tonight winners of their last 2 games and sporting a record of 4-1 in 5 games, and 8-1-1 in 10 games which is identical to that of the Wild (15-5-4 34 Points) in the same amount of games this season. The Blues have won 5 games in a row versus the Wild which is currently a franchise best for them with them also getting points in the last 6 matchups between these two franchises. To make matters worse for the Wild, the Blues currently have a 10 game point streak against them in St. Louis going (7-0-3) during that stretch with the last regulation loss versus the Wild at home coming on October 20th, 2007.
Currently the Blues are playing as good as any team in the entire NHL getting huge scoring production from Alexander Steen who is currently in a five way tie for points in the NHL with 27. Steen also leads the Blues in goals with 17 already on the year. The Blues currently have 11 players with double digit point totals in their lineup and 10 players with 4 or more goals this season. The Blues feature the 1st ranked power play in the NHL and are 10th ranked penalty kill. Make no mistake this Blues team is as good a team as the Wild will have faced all season and to make matters worse they are as hot as the Wild have been during the last 10 games.
The Wild will get their metal tested early and often in this one as the Blues have scoring, size, and speed on all four of their forward lines. The Blues also feature arguably the best defensive corps end to end in the Western Conference. If tonight is going to result in a hard to come by victory in St. Louis for the Wild they will need to be tape to tape with their passes and error free in their own end. The Blues are going look to punish the Wild with their size which in turn has been the formula for getting the Wild’s talented puck handling defensemen to make bad decision.
Tonight is a lot about attitude and effort for the Wild as point blank they need to respond to aggression with smart play and confidence in each other and the system. The Wild needs to get an outstanding effort from Niklas Backstrom tonight for it to be able snatch a victory away from the Ken Hitchcock led squad. The second line needs to continue to contribute secondary scoring. The Wild’s top line has been as good and productive as any in the NHL. Mikko Koivu specifically has been red hot playing some of his best hockey in a very long time!
The roster situation for the Wild and injury scenarios is very interesting right now to monitor as it branches out in many direction and has created many intriguing storylines to monitor. Mikael Granlund has been my favorite player this season but looks like he will miss his second straight game with an upper body injury. Granlund has showed his offseason adjustments were successful in facilitating his transition and translation to the NHL. I also think Granlund has played through brutal physical play by opponents. Hopefully whatever he is working through currently is just a maintenance issue rather than a lingering injury situation. Torrey Mitchell will miss his 3rd game with a leg injury and was placed on the IR for which Jason Zucker got the call up. Now Mike Rupp has been recalled and will make his season debut tonight. Keith Ballard has battled concussion symptoms and most recently broken ribs, head coach Mike Yeo said he is not quite ready to return from injured reserve.
The Wild injury situation most cringe worthy is Josh Harding stepping on a puck in warm ups before skating off the ice with a groin injury in Winnipeg. Harding has such a long depressing history of flashing his great potential only to have his season get derailed. Each time Harding is not available or suffers any missed action it will have the fans and organization on pins and needles. For Harding not to be placed on the injured reserve I think it is an indication he dodged a bullet but of course nothing is certain at this point.
Individual Leaders
Minnesota Wild St. Louis Blues
Points: Z. PARISE (22),M. KOIVU (21),J. POMINVILLE (17) A. STEEN (27),D. BACKES (22),T. OSHIE (20)
Goals: J. POMINVILLE (13),Z. PARISE (11),J. FONTAINE (6) A. STEEN (17),D. BACKES (10),V. TARASENKO (8)
Assists: M. KOIVU (16),R. SUTER (15),Z. PARISE (11) J. BOUWMEESTER (16),T. OSHIE (16),K. SHATTENKIRK (15)
PP Goals: Z. PARISE (6),J. POMINVILLE (4),D. HEATLEY (3) A. STEEN (4),D. BACKES (4),D. ROY (3)
SH Goals: Z. PARISE (1)
GW Goals: J. POMINVILLE (3),M. COOKE (2),M. KOIVU (2) A. STEEN (4),V. TARASENKO (3),T. OSHIE (2)
3+ Goals:
PIM: Z. KONOPKA (37),C. STONER (27),N. PROSSER (19) R. REAVES (65),C. STEWART (59),D. BACKES (38)
Shots: Z. PARISE (106),J. POMINVILLE (73),M. KOIVU (55) A. STEEN (73),D. BACKES (48),V. SOBOTKA (48)
+/-: M. KOIVU (+8),Z. PARISE (+8),M. SCANDELLA (+8) A. STEEN (+13),J. BOUWMEESTER (+11),D. BACKES (+10)
Last Game –Wild 3 at Jets 2 (SO): Charlie Coyle netted his first career shootout goal to clinch the victory for Minnesota Saturday
evening in Winnipeg. Zach Parise tallied an assist and tied the game in the third period with the Wild’s first shorthanded goal of the
season, while Nino Niederreiter also scored for Minnesota. Niklas Backstrom earned the victory in net, stopping 37 shots through
overtime and three-of-four in the shootout, after Josh Harding was injured during warm-ups.
Next Games (all times Central)
11/27 vs. PHX 7 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM
11/29 vs. COL 5 p.m. –FSN, KFAN 100.3 FM
11/30 at COL 7 p.m. –FSN PLUS, 100.3 FM
CURRENT WILD INJURIES
G Josh Harding –1 game (lower body)
C Mikael Granlund –1 game (upper body)
LW Torrey Mitchell –2 games (lower body)
D Keith Ballard (IR) –8 games (upper body)
LW Mike Rupp –24 games (lower body)
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 68
Recent Transactions
11/23 –Recalled G Darcy Kuemper from Iowa (AHL) on Emergency Recall
11/23 –Reassigned G Darcy Kuemper to Iowa (AHL)
11/20 –Recalled F Jason Zucker from Iowa (AHL)
Wild vs. Blues
All-Time Wild Record: 22-15-10 (8-9-6 at St. Louis)
2012-13: The Wild went 0-2-1 against the Blues last season... LW Dany Heatley (2-1=3) and LW Zach Parise (2-1=3) led Minnesota
with three points each...C Mikko Koivu (1-1=2) and D Ryan Suter (0-2=2) had two points each...G Niklas Backstrom had a 3.65 GAA
and a .859 SV% in three starts...C David Backes (0- 3=3), C Derek Roy (0-3=3) and D Kevin Shattenkirk (1-2=3) registered three
points each against Minnesota...G Brian Elliott was 3-0-0 with a 1.85 GAA, a .915 SV% and one shutout in three games...G Jaroslav
Halak started the second meeting (4/1) and left at the 19:47 mark of the first period due to injury.
WILD LEADERS: Koivu owns 21 points (5-16=21) in 28 games against St. Louis...Suter has 19 points (1-18=19) in 45
matches...Heatley has 14 points (10-4=14) in 19 games.
WILD GOALIES: Backstrom is 6-8-1 with a 2.86 GAA, a .895 SV% and one shutout in 15 starts against the Blues...G Josh Harding is
6-3-1 with a 1.92 GAA and a .937 SV% in 12 games (10 starts)…G Darcy Kuemper has not faced St. Louis.
BLUES LEADERS: Backes has 15 points (8-7=15) in 27 games...C Patrick Berglund owns 12 points (7-5=12) in 18 contests...RW
Chris Stewart has 12 points (7-5=12) in 20 games.
BLUES GOALIES: Elliott is 4-0-0 with a 2.04 GAA, a .905 SV% and two shutouts in five games (four starts) vs. Minnesota...Halak is 1-
2-3 with a 2.46 GAA and a .911 SV% in seven starts.
CONNECTIONS: Darryl Sydor ended his career playing 47 games for the Blues in 2009-10...Rick Wilson played two seasons in St.
Louis (19745-76)...Backes is a native of Minneapolis and played three seasons at Minnesota State Mankato (2003-06)...D Jordan
Leopold was born in Golden Valley and played four seasons with the University of Minnesota (1998-2002)...RW T.J. Oshie played
high school hockey in Warroad.
FAST FACT: Four of the last eight meetings have been decided after regulation...Minnesota is winless in its last five contests against
St. Louis (0-3-2).
12 Things to Know:
1. Minnesota has won six of its last seven games (6-1-0), posting a 9-1-1 record in November and earning points in 14 of its last 16
games (12-2-2). Minnesota continues to have its best start to the season, setting franchise records with each recent victory –its current
34 points (15-5-4) is its most through 24 games in a season (31 points, 2011-12 and 2008-09).
2. The Wild plays its second contest in a string of five straight games against Western Conference opponents, after finishing a stretch
where it faced the Eastern Conference in eight of 10 games. The Wild has posted a 7-2-2 record against the West this season, while
going 8-3-2 against the East. Minnesota also finishes its set of four straight road contests after posting a six-game win streak on home
ice and a 10-1-2 record in Saint Paul this season –a franchise record for most points (22) through 13 home games. The Wild has
claimed victories in 10 of its last 11 games at Xcel Energy Center.
Minnesota Wild: Media Notes
3. The Wild’s top line of Mikko Koivu (4-9=13), Zach Parise (5-8=13) and Charlie Coyle (2-4=6) has totaled 32 points (11-21=32) in
11 games this month, since Coyle missed 12 games with a knee strain. The line has also been clutch in the last six Wild wins: Parise
tied the game with 4:55 left in regulation Saturday in WPG before Coyle notched the shootout winner. Koivu scored the game winner
with 2:57 left in regulation Wednesday in OTT after scoring the game winner with 3:12 left Nov. 17 vs. WPG. Coyle scored the winning
goal with 9:22 left Nov. 15, vs. FLA, while Parise tied the game vs. TOR with 4:17 left in regulation before scoring the shootout winner
Nov. 13, and Koivu tallied the shootout winner Nov. 9 at CAR.
4. Mikko Koivu assisted on the game-tying goal before scoring in the shootout Saturday. He has nine points (3-6=9) in his last six
games and his 13 points (4-9=13) in his last nine contests are tied with Malkin (1-12=13) for the most points in the NHL since Nov. 5,
entering play Sunday. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Koivu joins St. Louis’ Alexander Steen as the only players to score two gamewinning
goals within the final five minutes of regulation this season, with Koivu’s coming in Wild victories Wednesday in OTT (2:57) and
last Sunday vs. WPG (3:12). The Wild captain leads the team with 16 assists and ranks second on the Wild with 21 points this season.
5. Minnesota leads the NHL with 22 points (9-1-4) from one-goal games –having its last six wins all decided by one goal. In the Wild’s
last five wins, it has tied or scored the winning goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation. In games going to shootouts, the Wild has
posted three straight victories.
6. Ryan Suter leads the NHL in TOI/game (29:33), nearly two minutes more than any other player. He’s topped 30 minutes in seven of
the last nine games and 12 contests this season –surpassing his 10 games of 30-plus minutes in 48 games last season. He has an
assist in four of his last five games and 15 helpers this season –T-6th amongst NHL defensemen. Since 2007-08, there have been 10,
35:00-plus performances in the NHL (regular season), and Suter totaled three of them in the span of six days –the top three TOI of his
career. According to Elias Sports Bureau, his 108:19 TOI in three games Nov. 7-13 (36:06 average) is the most by any NHL player in
three consecutive games since TOI started being tracked in 2001-01.
7. Zach Parise leads the Wild with 22 points (11-11=22) and five multi-point games this season. He has four points in his last two
contests (1-3=4) and at least one point in 12 of his last 15 games –totaling 17 points (7-10=17) in that span. The Wild alternate captain
ranks second in the NHL with 106 shots this season and T-2nd with six PPG. He scored his sixth career shorthanded goal Saturday
and five of his 11 goals have been the Wild’s first goal of the game. He is T-1st amongst all NHL players with 34 career shootout goals,
going 34-for-74 (45.9%).
8. Minnesota has allowed a total of 24, 5-on-5 goals this season –the fewest in the NHL and the only team to allow one, 5-on-5
goal/game. Josh Harding has allowed a total of 13, 5-on-5 goals in 19 games this season. He has also posted a .956 even strength
SV% - tops by any goalie who has played more than four games.
9. Nino Niederreiter scored has two goals in his last three games and eight points (3-5=8) in his last 11 contests. He registered a goal
and career-high five shots Saturday in Winnipeg. He recorded a Wild season-high seven hits Wednesday and leads Minnesota with 52
hits this season. He has 13 points (5-8=13) this season, surpassing his three points (2-1=3) in 64 games over parts of two seasons with
the New York Islanders (2010-12).
10. Josh Harding is second in the NHL in GAA (1.48), T-2nd in wins and shutouts and sixth in SV% (.939),posting a 13-3-2 record this
season –already matching his career high for wins in a season (13-12-4 in 34 games in 2011-12). He saw an 11-game point streak (9-
0-2) end Tuesday –the longest single-season point streak by goalie earning decisions in franchise history. He has given up a total of 26
goals in 19 games, allowing one goal or less in 12 contests, and two goals or less in all but three games.
11. Jason Pominville leads Minnesota and ranks fourth in the NHL with 13 goals this season. He is third on the Wild with 17 points
(13-4=17) this season, including 14 points (10-4=14) in his last 15 games. The former Sabres captain was acquired by the Wild April 3
and signed a five-year contract extension on Oct. 3. He skated in his 600th career NHL game Oct. 26 and, after scoring the game
winner in his return to Buffalo Oct. 14, has scored against all 30 NHL franchises. He tallied his 200th career goal Nov. 9 at Carolina.
12. Seven Wild players were named to pre-Olympic rosters for their native countries: Zach Parise and Ryan Suter (USA), Niklas
Backstrom, Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu (Finland), Jonas Brodin (Sweden) and Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland). The 2014
Winter Olympics are set to take place in Sochi, Russia, with an NHL Olympic break from Feb. 9-25.
Courtesy of wild.com/pressbox and @mnwildPR
MNWild: 3 Keys to Victory
1. The Blues will look to trap the Wild in their defensive zone as the blueprint provided by Montreal proved successful. The Wild’s defensemen need to be error free with their passing tonight. The Wild will need to eliminate extended offensive zone possession for the Blues by any means necessary this evening to give Backstrom a shot at victory.
2. The Blues are a team that plays a very physically imposing style and tonight the Wild will have to respond. I think it is very clear the Wild is not going to trade cheap shots with their opponents but it simply has to generate some sort of response and build momentum. Maybe Zucker takes issue at some point this evening and flexes his newly honed MMA skills? Maybe Konopka and Rupp reunite to engage in some bash brothers action?
3. I think tonight the Wild lives and dies with Backstrom’s ability to not give up the soft goals. In Winnipeg he was so good stealing goals from the Jets and willing the Wild to victory in an emergency start. Tonight if the Wild are able to end their regulation victory drought in St. Louis it will be up to Backstrom and the Wild’s defensive corps limit the Blues many scorers.
Just Giving My Take,
Tony Dean
Follow Me on Twitter @AWKD
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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