Minnesota Wild (3-1-0) 6pts 2nd in the Central
3.75 Goals For per game (5th in the NHL)
2.75 Goals Against per game (9th in the NHL)
12.5% Power Play (21st in the NHL)
92.8% Penalty Kill (8th in the NHL)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 1G 4A = 5pts
2. #3 Charlie Coyle ~ 2G 2A = 4pts
3. #12 Eric Staal ~ 3G 0A = 3pts
4. #7 Chris Stewart ~ 1G 2A = 3pts
5. #27 Zac Dalpe ~ 1G 2A = 3pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #7 Chris Stewart ~ 19 PIM’s
2. #5 Christian Folin ~ 8 PIM’s
3. #11 Zach Parise ~ 6 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #40 Devan Dubnyk (2-1-0) 2.70GAA .901%SP
2. #35 Darcy Kuemper (1-0-0) 3.00GAA .900%SP
Vs.
New Jersey Devils (1-2-1) 3pts 6th in the Metropolitan
1.50 Goals For per game (30th in the NHL)
2.00 Goals Against per game (4th in the NHL)
20% Power Play (11th in the NHL)
92.8% Penalty Kill (6th in the NHL)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #21 Kyle Palmieri ~ 2G 1A = 3pts
2. #9 Taylor Hall ~ 2G 0A = 2pts
3. #11 P.A. Parenteau ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
4. #19 Travis Zajac ~ 1G 1A = 2pts
5. #28 Damon Severson ~ 0G 2A = 2pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #2 John Moore ~ 8 PIM’s
2. #38 Vernon Fiddler ~ 7 PIM’s
3. #21 Kyle Palmieri ~ 4 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #35 Corey Schneider (1-2-1) 2.00GAA .938%SP
2. #1 Keith Kinkaid N/A
There are several things I think of when I hear “Jersey” and “devil.” Sadly, I don’t really think of the hockey team that calls Newark home. Although one of my thoughts is slightly related, but I’ll get to that. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I love television shows about the paranormal or cryptozoology. If I’ve finagled to gain control of the remote control, he’ll either walk away or make a snide comment if I’m watching one of those shows. I think the difference is that I grew up in a house that had a spirit of it’s own. Although ours seemed to be a friendly, helpful kind of spirit, so needless to say, no one is going to come in and investigate or create a movie. So with Halloween just around the corner, I think of the Jersey Devil, a supposed creature that calls the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey home. The cryptozoology shows never really seem to gather much evidence, so I tend to think it’s more legend than fact. As opposed to say the Yeti, which I think has a chance of actually existing. The other thought I have about “Jersey” and “devil” is related to the team however. I always think of the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry thinks he’s going to a simple Rangers game. However, he gets his nosebleed seat from David Puddy, who is a Devils fan. Poor Jerry gets roped into not only sitting with Puddy and his friends, but having to don body paint. And considering the recent, unimpressive seasons by the New Jersey Devils, those tend to be my thoughts when I think of that team.
So as the Wild embark on this four-game East Coast road trip, they’re doing so a bit banged up. Most notable of the absences will be Jared Spurgeon who suffered and upper-body injury against Toronto. With his likely absence from the lineup (although he’s on the road trip), we should expect Marco Scandella who was out from Thursday’s game due to illness. Depending on how sick he was, he might not be fully himself. And it’s not just the blue line where the Wild will have some noticeable absences. Now, if Mike Yeo was still the head coach, he wouldn’t be particularly worried about an Eric Haula injury, but this isn’t a Mike Yeo team any more (thank goodness). It seems that Haula has been playing through a lower body injury of his own. Since he didn’t practice yesterday, it is unlikely he will be in the lineup tonight. There is a chance with Haula out, we might see the NHL debut of Joel Eriksson Ek. So far there hasn’t been official word on a lineup yet, but it could be interesting to be sure.
Tonight is one of those games where you really need the Wild to come out strong and play their game. It’s going to be a game where assistant coach, Scott Stevens is going to want to look good as he returns “home.” You want to get a strong start on a long road trip. But getting the 2-points tonight is more important than one would think. You’re probably asking the question why I’m so fixated on this. Well, let me turn your focus to this Tweet I noticed this morning as this has to do with tomorrow night’s game:
Arthur Staple #Isles were highly critical of Barclays Center ice last night. Clutterbuck called it “unplayable.” Boychuk said it was “bouncy.”
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