Minnesota Wild (2-0-0) 4pts 4th in the Central
4.00 Goals For (5th)
0.00 Goals Against (1st)
0% Power Play (28th)
100% Penalty Kill (2nd)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #11 Zach Parise ~ 2G 2A = 4pts
2. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 1G 2A = 3pts
3. #46 Jared Spurgeon ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
4. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
5. #3 Charlie Coyle ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #18 Ryan Carter ~ 8 PIM’s
2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 2 PIM’s
3. #3 Charlie Coyle ~ 2 PIM’s
Top Goaltender:
1. #35 Darcy Kuemper (2-0-0) 0.00GAA 1.00%SP 2SO
Vs.
Anaheim Ducks (3-1-0) 6pts 3rd in the Pacific
3.75 Goals For (8th)
3.00 Goals Against (19th)
23.5% Power Play (11th)
76.9% Penalty Kill (20th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #10 Corey Perry ~ 4G 2A = 6pts
2. #15 Ryan Getzlaf ~ 2G 4A = 6pts
3. #17 Ryan Kesler ~ 2G 3A = 5pts
4. #39 Matt Beleskey ~ 3G 0A = 3pts
5. #45 Sami Vatanen ~ 0G 3A = 3pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #3 Clayton Stoner ~ 7 PIM’s
2. #18 Tim Jackman ~ 5 PIM’s
3. #10 Corey Perry ~ 4 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #31 Frederik Andersen (3-0-0) 1.95GAA .928%SP
2. #36 John Gibson (0-1-0) 6.00GAA .846%SP
The Wild got out to a fast start with two shutout victories over the Colorado Avalanche, start planning the parade route, right? Not even close, but its tough not to be at least a little excited about the Minnesota Wild. Just remind me of that when the team is in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
The Wild appear to have scoring depth with Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Mikael Granlund and Thomas Vanek as well as a host of others who can chip in goals. Scoring at even strength is no longer the bane of the team’s existence. The team’s puck possession game is both stifling and frustrating to opponents. This formula will be tested big time against the fast and physical Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have a deadly pairing on its top line in sniper Corey Perry and set up man Ryan Getzlaf and followed up by a second line that features Ryan Kesler. However, the Ducks are a bit top heavy and this might be a great way to see if Minnesota’s scoring depth can answer make the difference.
Defensively, the Ducks like blueliners who carry an edge to the game in Francois Beauchemin, Ben Lovejoy and former Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner. Meanwhile, the Wild’s defense is comparable size-wise but is not as physical and they will have to show they can win puck battles against the Ducks’ collection of power forwards like Getzlaf, Kesler, Perry, Patrick Maroon, Devante Smith-Pelly, and former Park Center Pirate Tim Jackman. Perhaps the best play for the Wild’s blueline is to move the puck quickly and support the Wild’s offense and use that to limit the amount of offensive opportunities for the Ducks. Marco Scandella, Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin were tremendous the first few games against a speedy Avalanche team but they’ll be pushed physically against the Ducks and later against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday afternoon.
Between the pipes, the Wild have gotten two superb starts from Darcy Kuemper but there have been strong hints the Wild are going to give a start to Niklas Backstrom even though Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo has shown a penchant for riding the hot hand. I can see why you’d want to work Backstrom in, especially after this unusually long and early break in the schedule. He needs starts, and the team needs to know he can be a decent alternate option to Kuemper. The Ducks surprised some by not making a move to sign a more seasoned starter, but the team has faith in youbg goaltenders Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Andersen, the Danish-born puck stopper has been solid in 3 outings this season, while Gibson’s shaky debut caused the Ducks to call up Jason LaBarbera. Andersen is sure to get the start, while I think Kuemper still has the inside track for the Wild.
One of the toughest things to do, is to re-ignite that emotion after a break in the season. The Wild tried to utilize intense practices to keep their game sharp. Minnesota should enjoy another boost from Justin Fontaine‘s return from injury he sustained during the pre-season. Where the Wild place Fontaine, which could be just about anywhere from the 2nd to the 4th line will be interesting as Yeo is still trying to establish chemistry with his lines. I could see Fontaine as a nice, speedy swing man that could work well with Vanek and Mikko Koivu.
There has been some bad blood in the past, and while the Ducks don’t dress as many thugs as they used to I expect an intense and physical game. Can the Wild respond with another big road win?
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