Bettman Knights/Wild

[UK_Soldier]

1 minute ago, Sam said:

🤷‍♂️ pull him?

I like your thinking, but not anymore. 

[RedLake]

Hartman shorty from the penalty box.

[UK_Soldier]

Sigh. 

...you need to have that one Flower. 

Edited Wednesday at 02:25 AM by UK_Soldier

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, Thatoneguy said:

There are goalies in the league that are better skaters than Brazeau...... 

The guy is like if you ordered Greenway from Temu. 

Dollar General pat maroon

[Pewterschmidt]

New drinking game: drink every time Trenin turns over the puck

[RedLake]

That's OK Wild St Louis caught you and so will the Flames and Canucks. We'll get them next year when no free agents sign here.

[UK_Soldier]

This two game stretch was always going to be brutal. 2 points would have been great and I think the best odds to get 2 would have been yesterday on the front end of this. 

[RedLake]

Up next Ovi. Then 2 against the Devils. No offense no points no playoffs.

[RedLake]

Wes Walz is trading places with crusty breezers.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

2 hours ago, RedLake said:

That's OK Wild St Louis caught you and so will the Flames and Canucks.

The standings point gap was expected to narrow as the Blues went through their cupcake schedule. Their opponents get quite a bit tougher after their next game.

The Wild have another tough game Thursday, but likely will get some points from their Eastern conference run against NJ and the NYC teams. Wild do have another game against Dallas, but their final 4 games are all against teams lower in the standings than the Wild are today. Wild might only need to win 4 of 10 games in order to make the playoffs, but 5+ wins would be much more comfortable.

The Blues have 1 fewer game and a slightly more difficult remaining schedule than the Wild. Could go either way, but would not be shocking for the Blues to finish with the 1st wild card.

Although not impossible, it would be rather surprising if Calgary or Vancouver catch either of them. The Flames and Canucks both have more difficult schedules ahead than the Wild based upon current standings points percentages for upcoming opponents. Calgary has recently had a nice run, mostly against the Eastern Conference teams the Wild have in front of them next week.

[Protec]

Guerin isn't the reason MN couldn't get Eichel when he became available out of Buffalo. 

OCL and Fletcher/Fenton effed up the whole thing with the 11/20 deals and the NHL hammered in the last coffin-nails. 

Somewhat ironic to see him beat the Wild himself and again big teams with large defense, not skating-puck-movers beat Minnesota and dominate special teams and little details with just one Swede and Russian while MN is like 50% little and Euro. 

[Protec]

Guerin IS the reason MN is still 50% little and Euro...

[Protec]

No L1, identity, or momentum. 

Real contenders are VGK, WSH, DAL, FLA, COL, and EDM. 

Maybe things can change in in the next two weeks but MN has taken another season of lumps and it looks like the writing is on the wall as STL pours on the pressure with their minimally Euro roster and playoff push perseverance. 

MN again limping and whimping into April witha fresh taste of struggle and defeat, hoping for more games against Buffalo or MTL to feel good again. 

[RedLake]

We need more Euros period. Small ones.

[RedLake]

Flames within 6 points. Washington lost in OT to the big bad ass Jets. Flames are running hot.

[Protec]

Wild players warning up for World Championships. 😆

[RedLake]

NoJo can't wait for the world Championships. Hell even Boldy can get to the net in the world's. Rossi has to be licking his chops. Brazeau and Guance didn't get a invite. 

[Sam]

20 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

The standings point gap was expected to narrow as the Blues went through their cupcake schedule. Their opponents get quite a bit tougher after their next game.

The Wild have another tough game Thursday, but likely will get some points from their Eastern conference run against NJ and the NYC teams. Wild do have another game against Dallas, but their final 4 games are all against teams lower in the standings than the Wild are today. Wild might only need to win 4 of 10 games in order to make the playoffs, but 5+ wins would be much more comfortable.

The Blues have 1 fewer game and a slightly more difficult remaining schedule than the Wild. Could go either way, but would not be shocking for the Blues to finish with the 1st wild card.

Although not impossible, it would be rather surprising if Calgary or Vancouver catch either of them. The Flames and Canucks both have more difficult schedules ahead than the Wild based upon current standings points percentages for upcoming opponents. Calgary has recently had a nice run, mostly against the Eastern Conference teams the Wild have in front of them next week.

Oh quit being so rational and optimistic..

[RedLake]

Canucks hot as hell! Just beat the isle. They look way more talented and hungry than Minny. They have alot more and it's not funny. The Wild are in big trouble. Flames and Canucks look hot. I honestly hope the AHLers find a way to get two points tomorrow night or they are done. 

       Jiricek needs to at least Brent Burns wing on the third line from here on out. The kid goes to the net, has a shot, and isn't afraid to toss his weight around. Ovi is licking his chops for a hattie tomorrow night. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

11 hours ago, RedLake said:

Canucks hot as hell! Just beat the isle. They look way more talented and hungry than Minny. They have alot more and it's not funny. The Wild are in big trouble. Flames and Canucks look hot. I honestly hope the AHLers find a way to get two points tomorrow night or they are done. 

       Jiricek needs to at least Brent Burns wing on the third line from here on out. The kid goes to the net, has a shot, and isn't afraid to toss his weight around. Ovi is licking his chops for a hattie tomorrow night. 

Definitely not done. After tonight, the Wild will have the easiest remaining schedule of the teams vying for the Wild Card slots, and they hold the tie breaker over all the teams currently behind them.

Jiricek was injured in Iowa and will not be available for the MN Wild. He likely will not be up with them again this season, but should spend the summer with their skating coach and be ready for NHL hockey next season.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

On 3/26/2025 at 6:50 AM, Protec said:

Real contenders are VGK, WSH, DAL, FLA, COL, and EDM. 

Maybe things can change in in the next two weeks but MN has taken another season of lumps and it looks like the writing is on the wall as STL pours on the pressure with their minimally Euro roster and playoff push perseverance.

You don't think Winnipeg(#3 in goals for and #1 in goals against) is a contender?

Blues are near top 5 in winning percentage since New Year's Eve, but leaving them out seems reasonable. Jets have been around the top of the league all season.

[Protec]

7 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

You don't think Winnipeg(#3 in goals for and #1 in goals against) is a contender?

Blues are near top 5 in winning percentage since New Year's Eve, but leaving them out seems reasonable. Jets have been around the top of the league all season.

I do, but I just forgot all about them. 

WPG and WSH just seem to be on another level. The Wild have to first establish they belong with the top 10, let alone the 5-6 teams who really hold up well against the best. MN has a decent record but can't beat any of the heavy-hitters. I totally agree WPG is a top contender. I have my doubts about Hellybuck and VGK or Dallas are so complete that I tend to think they'll be in a Conference final. STL is hot and MacKinnon can take over games with Makar so the Wild running NoJo and Zuccarello with Buttonhook-Boldy, and Rossi as the top guys doesn't cut the Mustard against Mark Stone, Roope Hintz, or Mark Schiefelee. 

I hate to say the Wild are a ways off with no relief for the PK or face-off woes. That's significant if you asked me. Florida has three good guys in the dot. Same with Dallas. The Wild literally get schooled on draws every single game and they still suck on both side of the special teams game. That's a formula for losing when you combine the lack of goals from #97 and #14. 

It's gonna be a tough end to the season whether they make the playoffs or not. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

17 minutes ago, Protec said:

I hate to say the Wild are a ways off with no relief for the PK or face-off woes. That's significant if you asked me. Florida has three good guys in the dot. Same with Dallas. The Wild literally get schooled on draws every single game and they still suck on both side of the special teams game. That's a formula for losing when you combine the lack of goals from #97 and #14. 

It's gonna be a tough end to the season whether they make the playoffs or not. 

Hard to argue. I believe the Wild can close the season decently and give their round 1 opponent a fairly competitive series if fully healthy, but it would be quite a surprise to see them advance.

Next season, things could be very different, but with the recent string of games, and their 2 key guys not playing before April, there's no question that several Western Conference teams are in a more advantageous position right now.