Article: Joel Eriksson Ek Was Minnesota's Missing Puzzle Piece

[Phillip Garrett]

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[MNCountryLife]

I was losing hope for this team in December.  But Ek coming back, Rossi stepping up and Faber/Brodin are eating massive minutes with high quality play.  Put it together and this team looks disciplined and sharp again.  Ek is definitely a catalyst for this team.  He really frustrates opposing teams.  Hope he can stay healthy... especially for the playoffs.

[Will D. Ness]

We haven't seen the 100% version of Ek this season yet.  Sure he is contributing right now, but it still feels like the gloves are on a little.

[Dango]

Maybe the Wild just need to find their own missing link  .  Since were referencing the N stars today .

[mnfaninnc]

Perhaps it was just me, and I didn't get to see the Carolina game, but Ek finally looked healthy against St. Louis. He was the only forward to score against a goalie in the game for us. And, that goal was a biggy. 

Ek brings so much to the table in his game that doesn't show up on a score sheet. With Rossi's improvements, Ek and Rossi are a nice 1,2 punch. 

Now, what happened to Faber? I saw a possible LBI, but not an UPI. This has to be Lambos getting sent back down and Jiricek up to play on Thursday.

Nice gutsy comeback against St. Louis. That was a serious blow to their playoff hopes, and one that we took often last season. 

I know we've got the Avs tomorrow night, and might even get Kaprizov back. But I'm not expecting much with the right side of our defense probably decimated. Sure, Brodin can play right and so can Chissy, but it's kind of different.

Also, Kudos to the 5 who got it done last night, and Fleury really played well sealing the victory. 

[Patrick]

28 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Perhaps it was just me, and I didn't get to see the Carolina game, but Ek finally looked healthy against St. Louis. He was the only forward to score against a goalie in the game for us. And, that goal was a biggy. 

Did Boldy move to defense with all the injuries? 😱

[hydguy75]

7 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

Also, Kudos to the 5 who got it done last night, and Fleury really played well sealing the victory. 

When KK was out for injury, it did have me worried.  Worried that this was a one-man team, and without him, we simply would not have the same amount of production (my hunch).  Whatever pep talk or discussion that happened, the team decided to fill the gap.  Perhaps it was EE returning at the right moment, idk.  But, this last run without KK shows that 1 we can be productive and successful in his absence and 2 there is potential for Wild players not wearing #97 sweater to do more.  This is encouraging heading into the 2nd half of the season.  Now if we can have both - light it up with this team's new success + 97 when he returns.  

Edited 8 hours ago by hydguy75

[Dango]

It appears to me that the defenseman were encouraged to be more aggressive and create more offense  take more shots etc