We have more matinee hockey today, live from the State of Hockey. We probably won’t see three trades during the game today, and we definitely won’t see any of yesterday’s acquisitions. However, it is still always fun to take in a game during the daylight.
The Numbers
[table id=TS02G62 /] [table id=IS02G62 /] [table id=GM02G62 /]* – Stats are courtesy of Corsica.Hockey, War-on-Ice.com, Puckalytics.com and Hockey-Reference.com
Projected Lineups
[table id=PF02G60 /] [table id=PD02G60 /] [table id=PG02G50 /] [table id=OF02G62 /] [table id=OD02G62 /] [table id=OG02G62 /]The Hat Trick
The Hometown Hero: My all time favorite story about attending a hockey game goes like this: Last year, I flew up to Minnesota in February (yes, I did that thing) to see the Panthers play the Wild. When Bjugstad scored, I kid you not, half the arena stood and cheered. It was incredible. They love their hometown boys there. Look for that reaction in the crowd if Bjugstad or Rau scores this afternoon. Beyond that, though, we’ve got to talk about Florida’s Nick Bjugstad problem a little bit: he’s not getting ice time. He hasn’t reached 13 minutes of 5v5 TOI since the game against Pittsburgh — where, coincidentally, he had Florida’s only regulation goal, plus a key shootout goal to keep Florida in it. He was outstanding against Arizona and was rewarded with playing five minutes fewer at evens than Derek MacKenzie. That’s bizarre and that can’t continue if this team is meant to be successful. Nick Bjugstad is one of Florida’s best weapons: they need to use him that way, especially as he settles in.
The Injury Report: Everyone is broken. Everyone. Howden looks close to a return for Florida and Parise returns from injury today for Minnesota, but both teams are missing their 1LW in Jonathan Huberdeau and Jason Zucker and Minnesota is missing the kid who should have beaten Huberdeau for the Calder in 2013 in Jonas Brodin — and their D is suffering for it, badly. Reinforcements are on the way for Florida, but the Wild are still a dangerous team, especially with how good Charlie Coyle (who, fun fact, was recruited away from Boston University by Gerard Gallant, Mike Kelly, and Jonathan Huberdeau) has been this season.
The Old Guys: Mikko Koivu leads the Wild in points, with 43, and Jaromir Jagr is leading your Florida Panthers with 45. I love this. Both teams have stellar young talent — the Wild, in fact, have as many first rounders from 2010 on their roster as Florida does, with Coyle, Granlund, and Niederreiter and their D makes Florida’s look grizzled and experienced, even without Willie Mitchell — but the old guys are kicking butt and taking names too — and that, ultimately, is what’s needed.
Closing Thoughts
Make sure to check out AJ’s recap of the trades Florida made yesterday, which you’ll note that I have cleverly avoided discussing, and as always, don’t forget to donate to #CatsForACause! We’ve raised $1,657 so far to fight sexual violence and I owe another $68 in pledges on top of that (I’ll be donating when the regular season ends). Thank you all so much for supporting #CatsForACause so far this year.
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