Minnesota Wild (41-26-12) 94pts 4th in the Central
2.39 Goals For (27th)
2.35 Goals Against (5th)
17.8% Power Play (17th)
79.8% Penalty Kill (26th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #11 Zach Parise ~ 28G 26A = 54pts
2. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 27G 27A = 54pts
3. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 11G 40A = 51pts
4. #26 Matt Moulson ~ 22G 26A = 48pts
5. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 7G 35A = 42pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #21 Kyle Brodziak ~ 61 PIM’s
2. #39 Nate Prosser ~ 58 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 (11-8-8) 2.56GAA .914%SP 4SO
Vs.
Boston Bruins (53-18-7) 113pts 1st in the Atlantic
3.18 Goals For (3rd)
2.09 Goals Against (2nd)
20.8% Power Play (3rd)
84% Penalty Kill (8th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #46 David Krecji ~ 17G 49A = 66pts
2. #12 Jarome Iginla ~ 30G 31A = 61pts
3. #37 Patrice Bergeron ~ 28G 32A = 60pts
4. #17 Milan Lucic ~ 24G 34A = 58pts
5. #18 Reilly Smith ~ 19G 30A = 49pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #17 Milan Lucic ~ 87 PIM’s
2. #22 Shawn Thornton ~ 70 PIM’s
3. #54 Adam McQuaid ~ 69 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #40 Tuukka Rask (35-15-5) 2.04GAA .930%SP 7SO
2. #30 Chad Johnson (17-3-2) 2.12GAA .923%SP 2SO
- Jared Spurgeon carries the puck out of danger.
Well, the past two games haven’t exactly been the greatest games. In fact, last night was down-right boring. However, a win is a win is a win. And not only have the Wild bounced back from the loss in Chicago, but we’ve gotten two consecutive shut-outs from the team and Ilya Bryzgalov. I don’t know about you, considering the number of goaltenders Minnesota has gone through this season, but the acquisition of Bryzgalov for no more than a fourth round pick has so far been the best trade of a pick. Of course, from Philadelphia fans, they’re extremely cynical and sarcastic about their former goaltender. Perhaps the $1.64 million a season Philadelphia will be paying him for the next thirteen seasons has something to do with that. Now, Wild fans have been annoyed with the contract given to injured goalie Niklas Backstrom, however count your blessings. At least we didn’t give Backstrom the kind of contract that the Flyers gave to Bryzgalov.
Now tonight, is another one of those major season challenges for Minnesota. Yet, if the Wild manage to grab just one point tonight, they’re guaranteed a playoff spot. If they manage to get both points available tonight, they’re guaranteed the top Wild Card spot. However, getting just the one point will be a definite uphill battle. There’s a reason that the Boston Bruins are the top team in the league. Yet, it’s not the Bruins who have me shaking in my boots. I’m more concerned about the poor play of the St. Louis Blues in recent days. Right now, the Anaheim Ducks are just 1 point behind the Blues. If they manage to fall to the #2 spot in the Western Conference, all the work that Minnesota has put forth to grab that top Wild Card spot will be for naught. I don’t like the Wild’s chances against Anaheim, but I’d rather play them than St. Louis. I wondered the other night if the Blues would purposely tank these last few games in order to get a matchup against us instead of facing Dallas or Phoenix. As unbelievable as it seemed then, it could become reality.
Regardless of who Minnesota faces in the first round, they are in possession of the top Wild Card spot. With that in mind, you can only hope that the Wild simply play the best hockey they possibly can in these three remaining games. If they can go into the playoffs strong, with more wins than losses, it should certainly help the Wild in the first round. Both St. Louis and Anaheim are going to be tough first round opponents. Anaheim, for being that team that the Wild simply can’t get past in the playoffs, and St. Louis simply for being St. Louis and having beat up on Minnesota not just this season, but for the past couple of seasons as well. Now, it’s entirely possible that the Bruins will take tonight off, much like Pittsburgh did on Saturday night. The Bruins don’t need a win tonight. They could easily rest on their laurels. I was going to say “and they’ll probably give us their backup goalie.” After I thought that, I took a look at Chad Johnson’s stats. They’re the kind of numbers that any team in the league would kill for in the backup goaltender. Either way, Johnson or Tuukka Rask are going to be tough to get a puck past. It would be nice to get the loss in Boston from last month back with a win tonight, but I don’t think it’s going to be easy.
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