Minnesota Wild
2.78 Goals For (11th)
3.22 Goals Against (11th)
12% Power Play (12th)
83.9% Penalty Kill (8th)
52.4% Faceoffs (3rd)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #11 Zach Parise ~ 3G 8A = 11pts
2. #21 Kyle Brodziak ~ 3G 3A = 6pts
3. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 1G 5A = 6pts
4. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 1G 5A = 6pts
5. #15 Dany Heatley ~ 1G 5A = 6pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #4 Clayton Stoner ~ 22 PIM’s
2. #8 Cody McCormick ~ 14 PIM’s
3. #39 Nate Prosser ~ 12 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #35 Darcy Kuemper (3-1-1) 2.03GAA .913%SP 1SO
2. #30 Ilya Bryzgalov (1-4-1) 3.90GAA .830%SP
Vs.
Chicago Blackhawks
3.68 Goals For (2nd)
2.12 Goals Against (2nd)
19.2% Power Play (8th)
93.9% Penalty Kill (1st)
53.1% Faceoffs (2nd)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #19 Jonathan Toews ~ 4G 5A = 9pts
2. #7 Brent Seabrook ~ 2G 7A = 9pts
3. #88 Patrick Kane ~ 5G 3A = 8pts
4. #29 Bryan Bickell ~ 5G 3A = 8pts
5. #81 Marian Hossa ~ 2G 6A = 8pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #7 Brent Seabrook ~ 15 PIM’s
2. #52 Brandon Bollig ~ 12 PIM’s
3. #88 Patrick Kane ~ 8 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #50 Corey Crawford (6-2-2) 1.87GAA .936%SP 1SO
The Wild knew this wasn’t going to be easy. Chicago, the defending Stanley Cup Champion understands what it takes to win it all. They also have the confidence of knowing they beat the Wild in the playoffs last season. They feel confident they can withstand whatever the Wild can dish out; and so far they’re doing just that as they’ve jumped out to a 2-0 series lead. Minnesota took a step back after a promising game 1, but some of the same problems the team had a year ago against Chicago seem to be issues once again. Most notably, a lack of scoring.
Last year, the Wild were a bit banged up when it stumbled into the playoffs before meeting Chicago in the first round. This time, the Wild ended the season with confidence and the offense was in full effect in their first series. Yet after two games the Wild has just managed 3 goals from Clayton Stoner, Kyle Brodziak and Cody McCormick respectively. Not exactly the team’s most dangerous scorers. While its good to see these players chipping in, Wild fans are asking themselves where the Top 6 has gone. Zach Parise, Mikael Granlund, Jason Pominville, Charlie Coyle, Mikko Koivu and Matt Moulson have been virtually silent in this series thus far. Its not that they’re not scoring; as much as they’re not even putting a lot of pressure on the Blackhawks defensively that has fans and most likely the Wild coaching staff very concerned. And it should concern them.
This group put a lot of pressure on the Colorado Avalanche in their series. They’ve done well against other elite teams before as well. Yet if they’re not going to be Minnesota’s best line, the Wild don’t stand a chance. The Wild would be wise to consider giving Erik Haula more ice time. Haula has been a catalyst for 2 out of the 3 Wild goals thus far. His speed and creativity has been very evident with just about every shift he takes. Justin Fontaine also looked good in his first game back in the Wild lineup on Saturday and I expect to be there for Game #3.
If the Wild want some advice; especially the Wild blueline. They need to understand they’re playing with a bigger, meaner version of the Detroit Red Wings who live on a puck-possession game. Needless turnovers by chipping the puck off the glass and boards are what Chicago thrives on. Minnesota needs to use tape-to-tape passes whenever possible to eliminate those easy turnovers and thus force Chicago to work harder and wear itself out trying to get the puck back. Nate Prosser and Jonas Brodin are guilty of using the glass and boards way too much and that has led to Minnesota spending large amounts of time trying to get the puck back from Chicago. Brodin was horrible in Game 1 and was a little better in Game 2, but something has to change on the blueline. Either Prosser or Brodin need to be replaced, most likely by Jonathon Blum. Blum can’t do any worse than either of them have. Marco Scandella and Clayton Stoner have been Minnesota’s best defensemen. Jared Spurgeon also needs to raise his game.
Minnesota must be more active and physical with Bryan Bickell. He has continued to be a big-bodied thorn in the side of the Wild and if that means they rough him up or have someone shadow him it might be smart since he’s playing with a ton of confidence right now. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are dangerous, but I’d say Bickell’s tallies seem to sting that much more as he seems to be able to score at will.
Between the pipes, Ilya Bryzgalov is still the man for Minnesota. Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo said as much to reporters after Game 2, saying “I’m not going to wait around for others to be ready, he’s our guy right now.” Its not exactly a huge endorsement of confidence, but its acknowledgement that Bryzgalov is the best option at this point. While some have speculated some sort of miraculous return of Josh Harding I just don’t see how that is so much better than playing Bryzgalov. Harding hasn’t stopped a shot in an actual game since January. Bryzgalov’s numbers do look horrible, but let’s face it; he’s not getting much help in front of him. With the meager amount of goals this team is scoring the only way it will win is if Bryzgalov plays a virtually flawless game and he’s not at that point right now. Yet its the best the Wild can do.
Minnesota will have boisterous home crowd on its side and a sense of urgency of needing to push the series back with a victory. Chicago knows Minnesota will likely throw everything they have against the Blackhawks in the first 10 minutes. Expect Chicago to circle the wagons around Corey Crawford, and if Minnesota can’t find the back of the net right away expect the Blackhawks to counter attack pretty fiercely. They know a home crowd can turn into an anxious almost hostile crowd to a home team under pressure and the Wild will be wise to put their foot on the gas and not let off. Minnesota cannot afford to be greedy, they don’t have to score a pretty goal. They just need goals; any which way they can be had. In the words of deceased Oakland Raiders’ owner Al Davis, its pretty simple…”Just Win, Baby!”
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