Article: Wild Shine Bright Against Reigning Champions

[Thomas Williams]

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[Protec]

If the Wild stay out of the box, their penalty kill can rest-easy. They have been a little better but I am impressed at MN's 60-minute effort and buy-in. They weathered a bit of a storm early and captured the momentum. Last year that was FL's downfall. 

Credit to Hynes and the players. Nice road win. Gotta keep it going though. WPG and DAL aren't missing out on points in the standings either. 

The folks who thought the Wild would be just a fuzz better than Chicago look dumb. We'll see if that changes. 

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, Protec said:

If the Wild stay out of the box, their penalty kill can rest-easy. They have been a little better but I am impressed at MN's 60-minute effort and buy-in. They weathered a bit of a storm early and captured the momentum. Last year that was FL's downfall. 

Credit to Hynes and the players. Nice road win. Gotta keep it going though. WPG and DAL aren't missing out on points in the standings either. 

The folks who thought the Wild would be just a fuzz better than Chicago look dumb. We'll see if that changes. 

I’ll be the first to accept dunce award but only when it’s due

6 game sample is just that - 6 games

im interested in tomorrows game - tampa won’t be missing their #1 player like FL ….. and Bob won’t be there (who was just horrible yesterday)

right now scoring is easy and Gus is lights out,  we shall see when law of average comes through

[Protec]

I'm not jumping to conclusions. The preliminary evidence supports an argument that it's not all about what's on paper. MN narrowly lost to WPG, one of the best teams. 

The Wild have been pretty consistent. If they stay healthy, I can't see them falling apart at the seams. Last season under Hynes, they were a better team. They did suck in the Central but missed the playoffs because of their start. I think NSH is another example of "not all that glitters is gold."

MN is doing really good with a somewhat uninspiring lineup. NSH is at the bottom with newly signed Stamkos and Marchesseault. Ouch. Maybe it equalizes? I just think MN is better than they got off-season credit for. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Edmonton was terrible to start the season last year and ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals, so we know the first 12 games don't mean everything, but the way the Wild have started has certainly been promising.

Wild have been performing like a top 10 team and there are only 4 teams currently with a higher points percentage. Seems like they've carried forward some lessons learned last year and newfound dedication from Gus and some others seems to be paying early dividends.

Hopefully the Wild can keep going strong and stacking points as the competition for playoff spots will be fierce down the stretch.

[OldDutchChip]

51 minutes ago, Protec said:

I'm not jumping to conclusions. The preliminary evidence supports an argument that it's not all about what's on paper. MN narrowly lost to WPG, one of the best teams. 

The Wild have been pretty consistent. If they stay healthy, I can't see them falling apart at the seams. Last season under Hynes, they were a better team. They did suck in the Central but missed the playoffs because of their start. I think NSH is another example of "not all that glitters is gold."

MN is doing really good with a somewhat uninspiring lineup. NSH is at the bottom with newly signed Stamkos and Marchesseault. Ouch. Maybe it equalizes? I just think MN is better than they got off-season credit for. 

its way too soon to say how the season will turn out. after 4 games you would think avs would be the laughing stock of the league (0-4), yet here they are winning 3 in a row. dallas is as strong as ever. jets are 6-0. yes we kind of lucked out that preds have started awful, but they have the vets that can get them back on track.

what do wild have? great start by top players. really really solid kap, Zuccy, boldy and Ek. Great start by their goalie (952 sv % - good for Gus, great start!). 

Rossi has been good with Kap (surprise kap makes everyone better! and that sparkling 23 SH% is not too shabby for Rossi - that will last......) and MJ that's been ok with Ek Boldy (also not a surprise!) but then we have an eventual problem.

we have NOONE in bottom 6 that can score. Freddy Foligno Trenin are most of the time unplayable. Marat is too raw and is still too light. Lauko is a good skater and has the heart but his skill is a bit meh - i guess ok for 4th liner.....and Ohgren - i cannot believe the guy is getting playing time. he needs to get back to AHL soon. When scoring dries up for top players, who will score? We are also playing these D studs - Midds, Bogo, Chissy and Merrill WAY too many minutes for it to not bite us in the ass soon. And lastly - Goalie tandem - surely Fleury / Wally will still play (not sure who you'd trust more???)and Gus won't post 950+ SV % all season? 

So what do we have? we have an over achieving team that is riding (i) great goal tending first 5 games in (ii) great play of their superstar Kap and stars Ek and Boldy and (iii) using their schedule to their advantage

not really going to complain with where we are at in the standing but a more realistic view has me worried. there will be a swing back to norm and it won't be pretty 

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, OldDutchChip said:

....and Ohgren - i cannot believe the guy is getting playing time. he needs to get back to AHL soon.

I agree on Ohgren.  Last night I was watching him thinking, well he’s getting the trial by fire introduction to the nhl.  He’s learning on the fly, but he’s not ready.  But P-Nut he needs the ‘opportunity’…I think ogz would develop faster (playmaking, physicality, decision making) and more thoroughly dominating the ahl this season, then bring him up for 10 games at the end. 

[Protec]

The Ogie situation is interesting. He does appear to be gripping his stick too tightly. Apprehensive, uncomfortable, and a little bit of deer in headlights. Rossi had a similar energy wanting to be a player for the Wild. Attitude or work ethic were not lacking. It was a maturing-process that was needed. You can't substitute for experience. Is that what we see with Ogie? I know he can skate, shoot, and make plays. Perhaps when MN faces some weaker teams and with more reps, Ogie can get going? 

 

[Willy the poor boy]

I'm still OK with letting the Ogre play up here as long as they're playing him. He doesn't need to be up here riding the pine though. Anyone know whats going on with Hartsy?

[Will D. Ness]

Ohgren looked overwhelmed last night and getting close to deer in the headlights.  Let's see if he gets right in the head vs Tampa.  Maybe a 4th line goal will do the trick.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

5 hours ago, Willy the poor boy said:

I'm still OK with letting the Ogre play up here as long as they're playing him. He doesn't need to be up here riding the pine though. Anyone know what's going on with Hartsy?

Upper body injury impacting his ability to shoot. He's skating, but they've been holding him out while he heals up since he's not much of a threat while hindered.

[Citizen Strife]

I can understand the concern about "no one but the top 2 lines are scoring."  Well, even Middleton scored against Hellebuyck, who's been stopping nearly everyone else.  No one has figured out Kap, Rossi, Zuccarello, and Boldy on the powerplay.  Hartman also had scoring punch until he got injured.  

I think it's feasible to suggest Foligno and Trenin won't score much if at all.  That's not their jobs.  But Khusnutdinov is showing a knack for shorthanded skill and Lauko has gotten a few chances here and there.  Mojo showed up and wants a new contract somewhere.  The only person really struggling to do their role is Ohgren.

The main goal is sticking to mistake free hockey.  Don't force a team that isn't a dynamic team (other than the top two lines and PP) from trying to do too much.  They have "enough" scoring to win close games.  What they won't be able to do is a shootout style game.  The third line especially would struggle to contain a run and gun game if any other team decides that's their thing.  But I trust this team to win if they keep it within one score or tied late in the 3rd.  

Edited October 24 by Citizen Strife

[OldDutchChip]

2 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

I can understand the concern about "no one but the top 2 lines are scoring."  Well, even Middleton scored against Hellebuyck, who's been stopping nearly everyone else.  No one has figured out Kap, Rossi, Zuccarello, and Boldy on the powerplay.  Hartman also had scoring punch until he got injured.  

I think it's feasible to suggest Foligno and Trenin won't score much if at all.  That's not their jobs.  But Khusnutdinov is showing a knack for shorthanded skill and Lauko has gotten a few chances here and there.  Mojo showed up and wants a new contract somewhere.  The only person really struggling to do their role is Ohgren.

The main goal is sticking to mistake free hockey.  Don't force a team that isn't a dynamic team (other than the top two lines and PP) from trying to do too much.  They have "enough" scoring to win close games.  What they won't be able to do is a shootout style game.  The third line especially would struggle to contain a run and gun game if any other team decides that's their thing.  But I trust this team to win if they keep it within one score or tied late in the 3rd.  

that's the worry - having such a bad bottom 6, relying on merrill, bogo, midds and chissy for too long and hoping gus doesn't revert back to last year's form - that's a bit worrying. the law of average catches up to every team (remember Brodziak's Yeo team that were on top of the world and then......) - and these wild are no different (well apart from Kap being Kap but he is still just one man) - the regression will happen. unless all of them catch some a wave of incredible season long luck streak - i just don't see this lasting. 

[mnfaninnc]

The old saying says: You can't punch a ticket to the playoffs in October and November, but you can certainly miss the playoffs in those 2 months. 

So far, and I agree with ODC, the 6 game sample size is too small. But, the 1st 10 games could help us bank points, points that Nashville isn't getting. Instead of chasing them, it's a little nicer to have them chase us. 

Just a small point, but I believe that the Wild on the road are all about trying to get points. They're not going to rile up the opposing fanbase, and unless necessary, not going to check guys through the walls. The show is for the home fanbase. Hopefully they can do it again against Tampa Bay. 

The Ohgren issue: The stats say he is doing zip. My eye test says he is improving. His 1st game, he looked pretty lost in all aspects of the game. This particular game, Ohgren looked like his legs had caught up. I'm not sure that he knows where to be, but at least there's improvement. His hands have not caught up, specifically stick handling. But, I'll bet in a couple more games he will be there. 

Now, the big issue is playing him. If we sit him in the Prossbox once Hartzy gets healthy, well, he'll probably lose all momentum he's gained. I think he'll catch up if we play him regularly. 

Remember, he's a very green rookie. Rookies have these issues. I'm not sure the A can fix what's going on. They look like they're not doing so well. 

Spurgeon is my biggest worry. Apparently he is flying to Philly to skate with the team there. Sounds like he might be close. If he continues to fumble pucks, though, the physicality will come his way. He must play the puck clean to avoid unnecessary contact. 

[hydguy75]

2 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

The main goal is sticking to mistake free hockey.  Don't force a team that isn't a dynamic team (other than the top two lines and PP) from trying to do too much.  They have "enough" scoring to win close games.  What they won't be able to do is a shootout style game.  The third line especially would struggle to contain a run and gun game if any other team decides that's their thing.  But I trust this team to win if they keep it within one score or tied late in the 3rd.  

Nope, I don't trust the Wild to hang on to close games heading into the 3rd.  Far too often these close ones end up in OT.  And OT should be avoided by smaller teams like the Wild to prevent injury and maintain stamina.  Last year our OT record was 7-0-10, giving up 6 points to opposing teams.  When you're middle of the pack on the edge of playoffs or picking tee times, every point counts (except last year, not enough mustard on the hot dog for us to grow post-season beards).  Also the PK is statistically at a worse disadvantage when the refs hate us in OT.  Finally, there is the change in morale and confidence for the OT losses.  Just watching the demeanor of the Wild try force the rush, pull a goalie, struggle to assemble an offense is gut wrenching.  That last beer always turns over in my gut when it's tied at end of 3.  Let your offense shine and dominate in regulation with a 2+ goal spread, not last minute desperation.  

[raithis]

The Wild may be overachieving but I see a lot of talk regarding individual players not being up to the task and not a lot of talk about the lines or the team itself.  A team of good players executing a system well can stand pretty tall even when going against a team of all-stars who don't have that same chemistry and cohesiveness.

Injuries last season made our team defense and offense pretty weak, and Evason not being the most adaptable coach couldn't turns lemons into lemonade.  What we are seeing is more of what this team was and really is.  With last season people seemed to forget about the seasons prior and are quick to pick on individual players rather than seeing how the team imploded with all the injuries.  This year, they seem more able to overcome some of that and I think they can get better once more of that chemistry and buy-in to Hynes's system solidifies.

Rossi is starting to pick up on the places to be.  Playing more in transition helps Johansson actually sorta be effective and it lets Khusnutdinov use more of his speed to have more of an impact.  I think Hynes is finding out ways to make the most of what he has, and where Evason had trouble adjusting, he's seemed to be much better at doing so.  Granted, I still think he's got a few things to figure out yet too.

Yes, we are a team of over-achievers, but we have been for a while (though we are slowly morphing into a more skilled team).  And yes, we haven't played enough games to say how the season will go, but it looks like we are moving in right direction on that as well.