Minnesota Wild (42-26-12) 96pts 4th in the Central
2.40 Goals For (26th)
2.36 Goals Against (6th)
18% Power Play (16th)
79.3% Penalty Kill (27th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 29G 28A = 57pts
2. #11 Zach Parise ~ 28G 27A = 55pts
3. #9 Mikko Koivu ~ 11G 42A = 53pts
4. #26 Matt Moulson ~ 22G 27A = 49pts
5. #20 Ryan Suter ~ 8G 35A = 43pts
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 (12-8-8) 2.57GAA .913%SP 3SO
Vs.
St. Louis Blues (52-20-7) 111pts 1st in the Central
3.00 Goals For (5th)
2.25 Goals Against (3rd)
20.1% Power Play (6th)
85.4% Penalty Kill (4th)
Top 5 Scorers:
1. #20 Alexander Steen ~ 33G 27A = 60pts
2. #74 T.J. Oshie ~ 21G 39A = 60pts
3. #9 Jaden Schwartz ~ 24G 31A = 55pts
4. #27 Alex Pietrangelo ~ 8G 43A = 51pts
5. #22 Kevin Shattenkirk ~ 9G 35A = 44pts
Top 3 PIM’s:
1. #75 Ryan Reaves ~ 124 PIM’s
2. #5 Barrett Jackman ~ 95 PIM’s
3. #10 Brendan Morrow ~ 76 PIM’s
Top Goaltenders:
1. #1 Brian Elliott (18-6-2) 1.98GAA .922%SP 4SO
2. #39 Ryan Miller (25-27-4) 2.59GAA .920%SP 1SO
The great challenge is behind them. On Tuesday night, the Minnesota Wild not only punched their ticket to the playoffs but they assured themselves of at least 7th place in the Western Conference. The pressure is off, kinda. The team has 3 games to focus itself mentally, physically for the war that is the playoffs. The question is, how will Minnesota approach the final 3 games? Will the Wild rest up its best players against an angry team with virtually nothing to gain and possibly a lot to lose?
The Blues are coming off an embarrassing 4-1 loss at the hands of the Washington Capitals. It was a loss so bad that had Blues fans boo’ing the team off the ice. Let’s just dwell on that a bit, this is the 1st place team in the West and they were boo’d off the ice in disgrace. Blues’ Head Coach Ken Hitchcock, told reporters after the game, he felt only half his team showed up. The Blues have lost their last 3 games and what was once a lock to win the top seed in the Western Conference is now in jeopardy. The ironic thing is the Blues’ problems started to occur shortly after the Blues bullied the Wild. Some experts have even accused the Blues of tanking so they can play the Wild in the first round. Its that bullying that provides more reason for coaches to avoid giving bug minutes to workhorse veterans like Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, Jason Pominville and even goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov. As it is, the Wild have already announced John Curry will be making his first start between the pipes for the Wild. Curry’s only NHL start was when he was a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins back in in the 2009-10 season, and he got shellacked playing in relief of Marc-Andre Fleury. The Shorewood, Minnesota-native’s totals were a horrific 12.25 goals against average and a .643% save percentage.
Also making his debut will be newly signed college free agent defenseman Christian Folin. Foh-leen as its pronounced had just completed his sophomore season at University of Massachusetts-Lowell when his team was ousted in the NCAA regionals by Boston College. The 6’3″, 215lbs defenseman plays a two-way game and he’ll get a nasty trial by fire this evening. So its very likely Folin will play the last 3 games of the season unless he really has a difficult time out there. Unfortunately, CBA rules prohibit Folin from participating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but even a 3-game cup of coffee will give fans a sneak preview of what to perhaps expect from him next season.
The Wild turned their fortunes around after the humiliating defeat in St. Louis, rallying back for wins over Phoenix, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Winnipeg and Tuesday night against Boston. That’s no small feat, but do the Wild want to take their foot off the gas now? The Blues feel they can do whatever they want against the Wild. Roughing up Wild players without retribution. A similar situation existed between the Minnesota North Stars and the Boston Bruins. The Bruins intimidated the North Stars until February 26th, 1981 when Head Coach Glen Sonmor thought enough was enough. After consulting with then General Manager Lou Nanne and getting the ok to make a statement, history would be written. Sonmor asked the team to fight at the slightest act of intimidation by the Bruins, no matter how small. This was the result of Sonmor’s challenge to his team.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8BW8jHNQlY]The North Stars certainly did not win every fight but the statement was simple, we will not back down. The Wild have players that can fight they are not using currently; players like Mike Rupp, Brad Winchester and Jake Dowell. Even if Minnesota dressed those players they would still likely be outgunned in a brawl, the Wild must also consider a message they fear the Blues anymore than they currently do. David Backes won’t be in the Blues lineup, so that’s one less tough guy to worry about. Either way, I don’t think its a good idea to just roll over or play timid either. The NHL certainly would not appreciate that kind of message, but as everyone knows, the post-season tests a team’s stamina and toughness. Its not the kind of hockey for the meek.
Minnesota doesn’t need points, but a message sent might be worth more than a regular season victory against St. Louis. I am not sure if Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo is willing to send that kind of message. Yet would a big loss with a roster more akin to an exhibition game be that much better? I am not asking for old time hockey, but I think you have to demand respect from time to time. A message sent to the Blues won’t just be noticed in St. Louis but other teams as well including the San Jose, Anaheim and Chicago. All of them clubs in the past that have also taken liberties against the Wild.
The North Stars lost that game back in 1981, but in the playoffs the North Stars played without fear and upset the ‘Big Bad’ Bruins. The Wild might want to use this lesson from history, even if in the short run it will result in a loss, because in the long run teams will have to show the Wild a little more respect.
Update: Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher just said on KFAN that he ‘hopes’ the team dresses Mike Rupp tonight. Maybe the team intends on sending that message afterall!
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