Minnesota Wild (39-26-11) 89pts 4th in the Central
2.40 Goals For (27th)
2.42 Goals Against (6th)
18.2% Power Play (15th)
79.4% Penalty Kill (27th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 27G 26A = 53pts
2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 28G 23A = 51pts
3. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 10G 39A = 49pts
4. #26 Matt Moulson ~ 22G 25A = 47pts
5. #64 Mikael Granlund ~ 8G 33A = 41pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #21 Kyle Brodziak ~ 59 PIM’s
2. #39 Nate Prosser ~ 56 PIM’s
3. #24 Matt Cooke ~ 54 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #35 Darcy Kuemper (12-8-4) 2.43GAA .915%SP 2SO
2. #30 Ilya Bryzgalov (9-8-7) 2.80GAA .909%SP 2SO
Vs.
Chicago Blackhawks (42-19-15) 99pts 3rd in the Central
3.20 Goals For (3rd)
2.53 Goals Against (11th)
20.2% Power Play (9th)
81.7% Penalty Kill (17th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #10 Patrick Sharp ~ 31G 42A = 73pts
2. #88 Patrick Kane ~ 29G 40A = 69pts
3. #19 Jonathan Toews ~ 28G 40A = 68pts
4. #2 Duncan Keith ~ 6G 51A = 57pts
5. #81 Marian Hossa ~ 27G 29A = 56pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #52 Brandon Bollig ~ 85 PIM’s
2. #65 Andrew Shaw ~ 74 PIM’s
3. #17 Sheldon Brookbank ~ 50 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #50 Corey Crawford (29-15-10) 2.23GAA .918%SP 2SO
2. #31 Antti Raanta (12-4-4) 2.58GAA .901%SP 1SO
Do you remember earlier this season, when the Wild kept racking up wins? They were often wins in which Minnesota had to claw its way out of a deficit. I’m still not sure how they managed to pull off those wins, but what was impressive is that they found a way to dig down deep, pull together, and work together as a team to get those improbable wins. The past two games remind me very much of that time. The games in Phoenix and Los Angeles found the Wild down early in both games. Between player-only meetings, hard work, and probably a healthy dash of good luck, the Wild are looking more like a team heading for the playoffs instead of the team hoping to make the playoffs. I’ve said this last month, but I would much rather this team go into the playoffs on their own merit instead of depending on the failures of other teams chasing the playoff dream.
Tonight will be another challenge. Playing other playoff-bound teams can be just as frustrating as the teams hoping to play spoiler. Right now, the Wild have a pile of playoff teams to play. They proved themselves against Phoenix and Los Angeles. Tonight is a chance to prove themselves against last season’s first round opponent. Chicago in recent years has not been a good match-up for Minnesota. While I’m not happy to face the Blackhawks at this point in the season, there could be a small silver lining in the Wild’s favor. For the first time in what feels like the forever, the Wild will get to play a Chicago team without Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Those absences will certainly help, but still does not guarantee a Wild victory. What’s truly crazy, is that neither Kane nor Toews in the Blackhawks top scorer. That honor belongs to another Patrick, and in this case, Patrick Sharp. The Wild are probably going to have to work even harder than they did against their previous two opponents. And like those previous two games, they’re probably going to have to weather a first period storm (if not longer) before they push back. Hopefully the Wild can keep the game close before they can re-group.
The Wild are going to have to work without the services of Mikael Granlund and Darcy Kuemper. Both of those injuries hurt the Wild, probably more than Chicago’s loss of Kane and Toews. In Granlund’s place tonight will be Erik Haula. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m happy to see Haula get that chance. He certainly has the speed and the hockey smarts to handle that pressure. While Haula has played well on the fourth line, taking Granlund’s spot next to Matt Moulson and Jason Pominville. This will ultimately be Haula’s job interview. If he can not only weather the storm but be successful, Haula will most likely be a permanent fixture in St. Paul. Also with Granlund’s injury, another center had to be recalled. That center will be Jake Dowell, and he will take Haula’s spot on the fourth line. And yes my friends, Dany Heatley will be a healthy scratch once again. In the merry-go-round of Wild goaltenders, Ilya Bryzgalov will be starting. Serving as his backup will be John Curry, also recalled from Iowa. Tonight will definitely be a test for Bryzgalov. Hopefully we will see the goaltender he was in the past, and not the goaltender of the past season or two. If he can stand tall and his skaters play hard in front of him (and score as well), Minnesota just might stand a chance. With the injury to Kuemper, it is certainly a good sign to see Josh Harding practicing again. No one seems to know if or when we’ll see him in a game again, but it’s certainly a positive sign, especially this close to the playoffs.
I know my fingers will be crossed through the entire game. At this point, all I can hope for is we see the team we’ve seen the past two games and not the team after the Olympic break.
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