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Fiala and Kaprizov Lead Wild Over Avs

April 8, 2021, 12:44 PM ET [8 Comments]
Dan Wallace
Minnesota Wild Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
After Monday's 5-4 loss, the Wild team was very disappointed with their response to the previous two beatings the Avalanche had handed them. To fall again Monday and to have the second period letdown was unacceptable.

Dean Evason challenged his team to not only elevate their game but to play a more in your face take no prisoners type of game. He felt that Colorado was able to take liberties with little to no consequences. That was no more evident than Brandon Saad's goal, where he cross checked Jared Spurgeon to the ice freeing himself to bury the puck back door on Cam Talbot.

From the outset last night the Wild established that they were not going to allow that again especially in their own building and in front of live fans. They played physical throughout which is particularly noteworthy because Marcus Foligno was again not in the lineup.

Foligno has always been the guy to lead that charge in the past but without his physical presence in the lineup it was everyone's responsibility to step the physical game up. That has to continue because the playoffs are all about the game within the game and it cannot just be Foligno that drives that bus.

Ryan Hartman has been fantastic all season long doing everything the Wild have asked, but now that he has moved to center he has become that much more valuable and his winning faceoffs is a pleasant surprise. Four points in the last two against Colorado is an added bonus as well. Hartman is never one to shy away from the physical play either and last night he delivered another message to Avalanche defenseman, Jacob MacDonald, with a blatant cross check that sent MacDonald to the ice with 21 seconds remaining.

The message was clear that the high hit that MacDonald had landed on Hartman late in first period was not acceptable and neither was his classless smirk he had on his face while the officials discussed the play. They ultimately did not call a penalty as they did not see the hit, the league however will take a look to determine if any disciplinary action is warranted.

Kevin Fiala who has raised his level of play over the last several weeks, extended his point streak to seven games with his first career hattrick and first NHL 4-point game. Evason had a lot tobsay about Fiala after the game, saying that he was pleased with the way Kevin has been playing and the offense of course is great, but it is more important that he is playing the right way.

The league is too good and players cannot focus solely on the offense, as Evason continued. Clearly the message has gotten through to Fiala that he needs to play the game the right way and when he does the opportunity to put up points is the byproduct.

Jared Spurgeon talked about how this Wild team is very tight and that should be a clear message to Bill Guerin that whatever he does in the days leading up to the trade deadline, it will have an immediate impact on the current squad. That said, Guerin's job is to make this team the best both now and moving forward. However, a solid playoff performance and the experience that the team can gain is also part of that process.

Guerin is in a good spot, because he does not have to do anything, but if the right deal or deals present themselves he can.
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