When news broke that the Buffalo Sabres had placed Matt Hackett on waivers it was interesting to see the traffic it created on Twitter. Some fans were falling over themselves commenting on how they felt the Wild could make a few roster moves to bring Hackett into the fold and thus solve Minnesota’s goaltending conundrum. The truth is, since Hackett is coming off a serious injury he’d have to spend time playing in Iowa first and only if he was ready make his way to the Minnesota Wild. I realize the importance of goaltending as much as anyone, but there are moves that make sense and those which do not. Either way its a lot of wheeling and dealing just for a ‘what if’ goaltender. The Wild had their chance to secure a veteran goaltender, who all but wanted to be with the team in Ilya Bryzgalov at the start of the season by simply making a little room for him in Iowa and then calling him up as needed. Instead the team hemmed and hawed and Bryzgalov was signed by the Anaheim Ducks who were looking for some goaltending insurance of their own. You snooze, you lose.
So as the clock winds down on 2014 just think of the interesting things that have happened over the course of the year.
1. Wild made the playoffs, advanced beyond 1st round against Colorado – The Wild rallied back for a game 7 victory over Colorado to stun the Avalanche at home for the 2nd time in franchise history on a beauty of a game winner by Nino Niederreiter. The team then had Chicago on the ropes in the next series, 2-2 before the goals ran dry and the Blackhawks prevailed in 6 games.
2. Wild sign Thomas Vanek to 3-year deal – The long rumored deal came into fruition as Vanek spurned more lucrative offers to sign with the Wild for 3 seasons. While it hasn’t resulted in major points yet, it was another desirable free agent who seemed to want to come to Minnesota above all else.
3. Kurt Kleinendorst out, John Torchetti in as Iowa Wild bench boss – Kleinendorst was relieved to be relieved of his duties as head coach of the Iowa Wild, and the team managed to bring back John Torchetti and the team’s fortunes have changed even if its place in the standings have not. The team is playing more competitively and overall the attitude in the locker room has been more positive since the change.
So what will 2015 bring for Minnesota? Tough to say, but they have one last story to add for 2014 in tonight’s tilt against its expansion cousin. Will the Wild end the year on a positive note?
1st Period Thoughts: The Blue Jackets had the advantage in energy to start the game, flying around the ice which seemed to have the Wild a step slow to the puck. Columbus was taking any opportunity to send shots towards Darcy Kuemper early, but Minnesota weathered the early storm well and then started to take the play to Columbus. It wasn’t the prettiest hockey, but Minnesota was paying the price to win the little battles along the boards and their hustle and effort would eventually be rewarded. Kuemper would come up with a huge stop on a Ryan Johansen chance and the big save seemed to spark a shift in momentum. The top line of Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville and Zach Parise got things going with a good shift where Parise was set up by Koivu for a quick shot that was shut down by Sergei Bobrovsky. The Wild would earn a power play midway through the period when Kevin Connauton sent a puck into the stands for a delay of game penalty. On the power play the Wild were direct and assertive. The team was quick to crash the crease and Bobrovsky was forced to make some big stops with bodies all around him. The best chance of the power play came off a Parise feed out front to Koivu that was denied by a fine save by Bobrovsky. The power play seemed to embolden the Wild who started to attack in waves by working the puck deep and working the play along the wall. One player who had a solid period was rookie Tyler Graovac, who outmuscled Connauton for the puck and then used his 6’5″ frame to protect the biscuit from Ryan Johansen and James Wisniewski who tried in vain to pull him off the puck. This effort drew another Wild power play. His strength and puck control were impressive. The Wild would finally cash in on the man advantage as Jason Pominville did a nice job of holding the zone and dishing a pass back out to the point where Thomas Vanek fed a quick pass down to Koivu who then made a nice cross-ice pass to Zach Parise for a one-timer that he just managed to sneak by Bobrovsky. 1-0 Wild. The Wild had to feel good about the way they had played in the period; where they used superior effort to will themselves a lead and out were out shooting Columbus 12-8.
2nd Period Thoughts: The Blue Jackets had great jump to start the 2nd period, reversing the puck with their defense to elude the Wild’s forecheck. Minnesota tried to counter attack as Vanek tried to thread a pass to a crashing Nino Niederrieter that just failed to click. At times the Wild were content to just chip the puck out of the zone and chase after it, but as they attempted to create a scoring chance they’d failed to make a good pass that put players into a position where they could shoot the puck. The top line of Koivu, Parise and Pominville were able to cause some trouble with excellent hustle and puck pursuit as they drew turnovers in the offensive zone which they were able to turn into shooting opportunities but time after time they’d fail to put a shot on net. Columbus would counter attack and use their defenseman as the catalyst to create chances as Connauton stepped into a slap shot that was stopped by Kuemper. The top line of the Wild had a number of good shifts where they were aggressive and creating scoring chances that forced Bobrovsky to stay sharp in his crease. A bad turnover by Marco Scandella turned into a quick scoring chance for Nick Foligno that Kuemper steered aside. As the sequence continued, Foligno would charge the net and Kuemper made a fantastic save from point-blank range, and at this point the period seemed to turn in the Blue Jackets’ favor. The Wild would try to re-engage with a strong forecheck as the 3rd and 4th lines attempted to amp up their physical game. The Blue Jackets’ line of Foligno, Matt Calvert and Ryan Johansen started to swarm in the Wild’s zone, and Calvert pulled the trigger that was dismissed by Kuemper but the pressure drew a tripping penalty on Ryan Suter. The Wild’s penalty kill was aggressive, attacking the puck carrier forcing Columbus to waste time in battling for the puck along the boards. Minnesota was getting their sticks into passing and shooting lanes and they were able to get the big kill. In the last few minutes the Wild were attempting lots of area passes that were easy turnovers for the Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets would start to carry the play late, as the Foligno line kept causing problems. Minnesota’s defenses started to get caught standing around the zone and Columbus kept hustling as Connauton tapped home a rebound as Kuemper was attempting to pick up his stick and the mostly quiet sellout crowd was back into the game. 1-1. Columbus would take a late hooking penalty as Dalton Prout held up Ryan Carter. An unfortunate finish to what was mostly an ok road period by the Wild.
3rd Period Thoughts: The Wild started the 3rd period with virtually a 2-minute power play to work with. On the power play the Wild move the puck well, but Columbus’ penalty killers were not giving Minnesota much time and space to work with. The Wild’s best chance came on a dangle by Jared Spurgeon who pushed it up to Niederreiter who tried to slide a shot by Bobrovsky but he’d lower the paddle and keep the game tied at 1-1. Columbus would go back on the attack and Ryan Suter would hold up Brandon Dubinsky. Minnesota’s penalty killers did a pretty good job through the first half of the power play, mucking and grinding well along the wall and clearing the zone. Unfortunately in the 2nd half of the power play, the Wild couldn’t manage to clear the zone and the puck would be worked from Connauton across to David Savard and the former Moncton Wildcat bombed a shot by Kuemper to give Columbus a 2-1 lead. The goal seemed to deflate the Wild a bit, but they would still rally to have some great chances as Jared Spurgeon put a shot on goal that drew a rebound that seemed to go to Niederreiter that he wiffed on. Moments after that, the Wild had another great chance as Matt Cooke rifled a shot that Bobrovsky stopped and then he had to make another great save on the rebound as Tyler Graovac swept in and shoveling a shot on goal. Minnesota would draw a penalty on Fedor Tyutin midway through the 3rd period. Unfortunately the Wild’s power play could never really get settled to create much in the way of shots on goal. The Blue Jackets’ penalty kill was very aggressive and they’d get the big kill. Minnesota would try to go back on the attack at even strength. The Blue Jackets were content to sit back in a very passive 1-2-2 trap and just play keep away and wait for some sort of turnover they could transition into offense or just send it deep and force the Wild to carry the puck up the full-length of the ice. The Wild kept hustling, and taking their chances to shoot the puck whenever they presented themselves but Bobrovsky was sharp and doing a fine job of not letting up any rebounds. Minnesota was activating their defense as they jumped up into the play as Spurgeon was set up wide open in the offensive zone but he waited a bit too long as his shot was deflected up into the netting by an alert Ryan Johansen. The Blue Jackets did a nice job of providing pressure late forcing Minnesota to waste valuable time defending its own end. The Wild would pull Kuemper with a little minute left to play, but with 6-on-5 they were frustratingly static with virtually no player movement at all. Minnesota was never even able to generate a quality shot on goal as Spurgeon couldn’t hold the zone and it was an easy empty netter for Johansen to seal a 3-1 Blue Jackets victory.
Its difficult to put much blame on Darcy Kuemper for the loss, as he stopped 23 shots on goal. The 2nd goal where he was caught trying to get to his stick was certainly unfortunate, but he also had a number of terrific saves with lots of pressure near his crease as well. I thought tonight was another game where Ryan Suter seemed to struggle and his two penalties were the result of lazy play on his part. I am beginning to think more and more that he is feeling fatigued from being overused by the Wild.
Offensively I thought the Wild did an ok job of creating chances. Tyler Graovac seems to be becoming more and more comfortable with each shift and I love his effort and assertiveness in the offensive zone. However, when the time came to finish a few prime opportunities they fanned on the shot or failed to connect. It was good to see the team score on the power play, with good puck movement down low setting up Parise to be the trigger man. Yet, one thing that vexes me is the 6-on-5 late in the game. The team put out Parise, Koivu, Pominville, Vanek, Suter and Spurgeon. I can understand some of those personnel choices; but why this team continues to sit Niederreiter (14 goals) and Scandella (9 goals) in favor of Suter (1 goal), Vanek (6 goals) is beyond me. The teams deferential treatment of veterans is coming at the cost of victories in my opinion. Suter, as I mentioned before is overworked but in an offensive role he doesn’t nearly create the movement nor the threat to score that Scandella does. Vanek lacks the quickness to win races for loose pucks which is so important in maintaining possession 6-on-5 and while he’s had some clutch goals, so has Niederreiter and he has a lot more of them to boot.
This was another game where the Wild at least had to come away with a point. Especially when you consider the gift the New York Islanders gave the Wild by beating the Winnipeg Jets in regulation. The Wild knew the Jets had lost going into tonight’s game, so to miss that opportunity to gain more ground against them in the standings is huge. The Blue Jackets are indeed playing better, but the Wild needed to dig deep and will themselves a point on New Year’s Eve. Hopefully this club will turn it around in 2015! See you there!
Wild Notes:
~ The Wild roster tonight was as follows: Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Zach Parise, Nino Niederreiter, Charlie Coyle, Thomas Vanek, Tyler Graovac, Matt Cooke, Kyle Brodziak, Ryan Carter, Justin Fontaine, Brett Sutter, Ryan Suter, Marco Scandella, Jared Spurgeon, Nate Prosser, Christian Folin and Stu Bickel. Niklas Backstrom backed up Darcy Kuemper. Erik Haula was the lone healthy scratch.
~ The 3 Stars of the Game were: 1st Star Kevin Connauton, 2nd Star David Savard, 3rd Star Sergei Bobrovsky
~ Attendance was 18,040 at Nationwide Arena.
Iowa Wild Report:
Recent Score: Iowa 3, Milwaukee 2 OT
After being thrashed 9-2 by the Grand Rapids’ Griffins it was tough to know what to expect when Iowa returned to the friendly confines of Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines as Milwaukee came to town. The Admirals dominated the game early as Iowa struggled to find a rhythm but Johan Gustafsson was solid as he kept the game knotted at 0-0 despite his club being outshot 14-5 in the 1st period. The Admirals would break the stalemate halfway through the 2nd as Viktor Arvidsson lit the lamp on the power play to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead going into the 3rd. Iowa would tie the game early in the 3rd as Marc Hagel found Zack Mitchell with a pass and the former Guelph Storm star beat Marek Mazanec with a quick shot. The Admirals would take back the lead as Arvidsson scored on a breakaway that seemed to give Milwaukee a victory. The Wild would not back down and they’d tie the game on a late power play as Jordan Schroeder wouldn’t be denied as he tapped home a rebound off his own shot to send the game to overtime. In overtime, the Admirals’ Viktor Stalberg took a costly holding penalty that gave the Wild another power play. On the man advantage it was Schroeder again as he banged home a rebound off a shot by Danny Syvret to give Iowa a 3-2 overtime victory. Gustafsson had 30 saves in the victory.
Wild Prospect Report:
G – Alexandre Belanger (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL) ~ The embattled goaltender came up big in relief for the Huskies as he stopped 22 of 24 shots and then all 3 in the shootout to give Rouyn-Noranda a much-needed 5-4 shootout victory over Val ‘d Or on Monday night. The Sherbrooke, Quebec-native is 10-7 on the season with a 3.51 goals against average and a .870% save percentage.
LW – Mario Lucia (Notre Dame, H-East) ~ The Fighting Irish are having a mediocre season and its caused was not helped by a 2-1 loss at the hands of lowly WCHA foe Lake Superior State 2-1 on Monday. The lanky winger had an assist in the loss. Lucia is 2nd on the Fighting Irish in points with 11 goals, 16 points and 12 PIM’s in 20 games this season.
C – Pavel Jenys (Sudbury, OHL) ~ I am sure it was deflating for Jenys not to be selected to represent his home nation of Czech Republic but now he’s trying to dig back in develop his game the best he can. Jenys chipped in an assist in the Wolves’ 4-2 loss to Mississauga Tuesday night. The Brno, Czech Republic-native has 6 goals, 23 points, 22 PIM’s and is a -12 in 29 games this season.
G – Stephen Michalek (Harvard, ECAC) ~ Michalek’s strong season continued on Tuesday night with a 33 save victory as the Crimson rolled to a 6-2 win over RPI. The former Loomis-Chaffee star has a 10-1-2 record, a 1.74 goals against average and a stingy .943% save percentage.
RW – Chase Lang (Calgary, WHL) ~ The lanky right-hand shooting winger continues to pile up the points with the Hitmen as he contributed a goal and an assist as well as 4 shots on goal in Calgary’s 8-2 win over Lethbridge on Tuesday night. The Nanaimo, British Columbia-native has 16 goals, 36 points, 27 PIM’s and is a +9 in 32 games this season.
C – Reid Duke (Brandon, WHL) ~ The smallish center continues on a career best-pace as he notched another assist in the Wheat Kings 4-1 rout of Prince Albert on Tuesday night. The Calgary-native has 11 goals, 34 points, 38 PIM’s and is a +13 in 34 games.
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