Game #21: Minnesota Wild vs. Montreal Canadiens 11/19/2013 @ 6:30PM CST at Bell Centre

Minnesota Wild (13-4-4)  30pts  2nd in the Central

2.52 Goals For (19th)

1.95 Goals Against (2nd)

22.1% Power Play (6th)

79.% Penalty Kill (24th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #11 Zach Parise ~ 10G 8A = 18pts

2. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 4G 13A = 17pts

3. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 12G 4A = 16pts

4. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 0G 13A = 13pts

5. #64 Mikael Granlund ~ 2G 10A = 12pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #28 Zenon Konopka ~ 32 PIM's

2. #4 Clayton Stoner ~ 20 PIM's

3. #39 Nate Prosser ~ 19 PIM's

Top Goaltenders:

1. #37 Josh Harding (12-2-2)  1.25GAA  .946%SP  2SO

2. #32 Niklas Backstrom (1-1-2)  3.30GAA  .874%SP

3. #35 Darcy Kuemper (0-1-0)  5.63GAA  .571%SP

 

 

Vs.

 

 

Montreal Canadiens (10-9-2)  22pts  5th in the Atlantic

2.43 Goals For (22nd)

2.05 Goals Against (3rd)

23.1% Power Play (4th)

85.7% Penalty Kill (6th)

Top 5 Scorers:

1. #76 P.K. Subban ~ 3G 14A = 17pts

2. #27 Alex Galchenyuk ~ 4G 11A = 15pts

3. #81 Lars Eller ~ 7G 6A = 13pts

4. #14 Tomas Plekanec ~ 6G 7A = 13pts

5. #11 Brendan Gallagher ~ 8G 4A = 12pts

Top 3 PIM's:

1. #15 George Parros ~ 32 PIM's

2. #53 Ryan White ~ 23 PIM's

3. #8 Brandon Prust ~ 21 PIM's

Top Goaltenders:

1. #31 Carey Price (7-8-2)  2.05GAA  .936%SP  1SO

2. #30 Peter Budaj (3-1-0)  1.48GAA  .945%SP  1SO

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Charlie Coyle

 

Tonight and tomorrow.  These are two nights on the Wild's schedule that could very well make or break the Wild's season.  The sad thing is, is that they're not in our division or even conference.  Point-wise, we shouldn't even flinch at playing Montreal and Ottawa (and I could add Toronto to that list).  However the Wild's history against these two teams should make any fan with any sense exercise some caution.  Minnesota managed to split the series with Toronto and won the first game against Montreal.  If Minnesota can win tonight and in Montreal, I just might feel better about this season.  Plus, if the Wild could actually win in Ottawa tomorrow night, we just might be exorcising some major demons.

Here's what I'd like to see tonight.  I'd like to see a Wild that can manage to win in convincing style in regulation.  Sure, handing over a point to Montreal due to overtime to the opposition isn't a big problem as they're not in our conference, but I'd like Minnesota to work on the regulation win.  We have plenty of games left where that OT point can and will matter.  Also, while it would be great to see Minnesota totally destroy Montreal on the boxscore, and in their arena, it is not needed.  But I would like to see the Wild come out ready to play a full sixty minutes.  Also, scoring 3-4 goals wouldn't go amiss, especially if they manage to allow Montreal only 1-2 goals.  Honestly, I don't know if that's going to be possible, but I'd like to see them give it a shot.  Truly, all I can really ask for is that they don't embrarrass themselves.

However, I am a realist.  You pretty much have to be with this team, as just when you think they've turned the corner they lay a major goose egg.  I just hope that I don't have to watch tonight's game through splayed fingers or from underneath a blanket.  Perhaps Wild fans everywhere can head into the Thanksgiving week with things for which to be thankful.  That however, depends entirely on the men wearing the white jerseys tonight. 

 

 

Jack Jablonski & Jenna Privette

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