Article: Wild Increase Gap With Win Over Kings

[Thomas Williams]

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[MNCountryLife]

Really bad call against Rossi for a slash in the 1st.  Gus played outstanding.  Out PP isn't pretty but is keeping us in games.  Our PK still looks bad but seems to be finding ways to hold on for dear life.  Nyquist needed to close down that pass across on the PK.  Can't let that through untouched.  He was a bit lazy getting back into the lane. 

[Enforceror]

I missed the game last night. Starting to wonder if I should stop watching because every time I miss a game we win. 

If you see me on the game day thread, tell me to GTFO.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Wild currently have the 1st tie breaker against all of the teams behind them in the standings, which is regulation wins. The teams behind them would not only need to make up 8 standings points, they would need to get at least 6 more regulation wins than the Wild in the next 14-16 games if they tie MN for points.

If the Wild can average at least 1 point per game the rest of the way, they'll almost certainly stay in the 7th spot, unless of course they win at a significantly higher rate and move up ahead of the Kings and/or Oilers.

St. Louis seems poised to grab the 8th spot now. They have a winning record since changing coaches early in the year and have been playing well lately.

Very possible the standings tighten up with St. Louis making a playoff push, but the Wild close the season with San Jose, Calgary, Vancouver, and Anaheim, 3 of the 5 worst goal differential teams in the West.

St. Louis has a few games against Nashville, and a game against Chicago in the next couple of weeks(one of the easier schedules over the next 6 games based upon standings), but closes the year with a more challenging schedule after that, including 2 against Colorado and one each against Winnipeg and Edmonton in their final 8.

[MrCheatachu]

Failing to score first and failing to put one in the first frame made me concerned that the outcome was going to be similar to the past couple games.

Going 2/3 on the power-play was a welcome surprise, with Hartzy getting a nice tip, and a passing play that *SHOCKINGLY* went to the center of the ice instead of rimming it around the edge for Zucc to get an absolute snipe past Kuemps.

After getting booed off the ice last game, this is the type of game this team needed.

I didn't hear the injury report on Moose (Upper Body Injury??), but not happy that ANOTHER player is on the trainers table, especially with how well Moose has been performing.

 

[FredJohnson]

58 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

I missed the game last night. Starting to wonder if I should stop watching because every time I miss a game we win. 

If you see me on the game day thread, tell me to GTFO.

[Willy the poor boy]

6 minutes ago, FredJohnson said:

[Amaddeo]

The boys really dug in last night and played hard. The PP and PK looked good. They were cleaner in their d zone, even when giving up extended zone time and long shifts. Gus was unreal too, and Merrill played well. Still in a great spot for the playoffs. If we can get Ek and Kap into at least a 2-3 games before the playoffs, who knows what can happen with this team being healthy 

[Scalptrash]

1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

St. Louis seems poised to grab the 8th spot now. They have a winning record since changing coaches early in the year and have been playing well lately.

The goal differential is an excellent predictor this time of year, St. Louis will be the 2nd Wild Card team. If it weren't for their hot start this season, the Wild would be outside looking in, or at best a bubble team.

[Willy the poor boy]

This is for Red...🙃

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Willy the poor boy

[Scalptrash]

38 minutes ago, Amaddeo said:

If we can get Ek and Kap into at least a 2-3 games before the playoffs, who knows what can happen with this team being healthy 

It will be sad and tragic if this is the case. The LTIR money could have been used to target Rantanen (Nelson or Boeser, if they seriously want them). If they are serious about competing in the playoffs this year (never really are), it was mandatory to deepen this team now. They could have signed them to new contracts that start next year, when money isn't an obstacle. I have a strong feeling that BG already knows who he is going to target this summer, part of the "5 year plan". Prepare to be disappointed.

I'm sure people think I'm crazy for even suggesting it, but I would have tried to trade Kaprizov for Rantanen. It may have been enough to entice Carolina. A star player, who they were expecting with Rantanen, that can produce right now. Kaprizov is hurt 1/3 of the season or more EVERY year. The Wild will never win a cup if he is the golden savior.

[Kato AK]

3 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

If the Wild can average at least 1 point per game the rest of the way, they'll almost certainly stay in the 7th spot, unless of course they win at a significantly higher rate and move up ahead of the Kings and/or Oilers.

The Kings and Oilers are in the Pacific, so the Wild can't move ahead of them. We would have to catch COL or DAL.