Article: There Are No Easy Playoff Paths For the Wild

[Tony Abbott]

View full article

[OldDutchChip]

If Kaprizov & Ek is back and close to 100% - we have a shot. I don’t really care if it’s Vegas or Jets - bring it! 

Enough of laying out excuses for why we’ll fail (again the obligatory cap mention) 

The loosing has to end this playoffs!

Boldy, Faber and Rossi - step up and lead the team - starting with tonight game. It’s not Hartman or Zuccy - it’s you three that need to lead! 

[Pewterschmidt]

Watched the Bruins vs Ducks last not and spot shadowed Khuz.  He's still with Middlestadt and Pasta.  playing the wing.  Lot's of good energy and speed, but seems he's always on a race to nowhere.  He does have a good stick along the boards and wins some puck battles that way.  But he may be allergic to offense and unless your 6'6" there's no room in the lineup.  Maybe that's what bill saw and made bill throw in the towel on this 22 yr old.  Verdict is still out on this trade.  I would have thought we could have gotten Braz for a few broken sticks, but bill likes to make deals where both side feel good about it.

Laukzy was on 4th line.  Didn't do too much.  That Boston team is a bunch of mis-fits right now.  Kind of weird vs the prior 10 yrs in Boston.

[mnfaninnc]

This team is exhausted due to the players having to play elevated roles. But, I think the schedule moves back into our favor against the Devils. Now, we've got to put up points again. ODC is spot on, Faber, Boldy, Rossi must lead tonight. Quit deferring and take it to the net. The spotlight is on you to bring us out of this slump. 

Is it a tall ask for 23 year old players? Yes, but needed. This is how you build champions, when an opportunity arises where you can lead the team. You guys have dreamed about this your whole lives, now go out and do it. This cannot be a 1 or 2 player team (Kaprizov & Ek), their absence means new heroes must emerge. This is your time to shine, go out and get it done! Dominate like you've dreamt about, and bring these fans to their feet....repeatedly.

The main lesson of Kaprizov & Ek being out is that this team is not dependent upon their contribution, that the others can gain confidence that they can perform too. We need them to know this. I am hoping for Nyquist to get on the board too, I think he needs it for his confidence. 

[hydguy75]

The Blues are on fire, 8-1-1 in their last 10, gaining 8 points on the Wild and within 2 points of knocking us down to WC2 slot.  St. Louis will face Winnipeg and Edmonton once each and Colorado twice in their remaining 9 games.  With that tight schedule St. Louis points gains should flatten out some.  Similarly MN hosts 2 more home games, then onto an east coast trip facing several Eastern division sitting PO slot teams, as well as a couple more (NYR, NYI) clawing for the final Eastern WC2 seed.  IF MN can stay ahead of St Louis thru game 78, the remaining schedule should allow MN to increase the spread and build confidence heading into Round 1.  You might even be able to rest a few guys, phase in some coming off injury, and tune the lines.  

Behind St. Louis, Vancouver and Calgary are both in contention for knocking St Louis out of a possible WC2 slot.  

As ODC mentioned, we need leaders to step up and execute.  These next 6 games are most crucial.  

[Aimlessone]

Anything can happen, but a playoff series win for Minnesota feels like a tall, tall order after getting served a reality check in these past two games. 

 

I think we have been in a reality check for far longer than the last two games. The Wild are a sub .500 team in the last 30 games at 14-15-1. Yeah, that has a lot to do with injuries and salary cap that has been parroted all season. 

As much as I hope that the return of Ek and Kaprisov change this team, I just don't think, given the length of their absence that it'll be enough to win a playoff series. To me, the writing on the wall has been here for months. 

I hope I am wrong. 

[SkolWild73]

I agree with what everyone else has commented so far, that we have a chance against anyone if we are healthy.  I still believe that we are going to do just enough, and the Blues will cool off enough that we end with the first wild card spot and end up playing Vegas.  I get that we were 0-3 against them this year but still think we can come out ahead.

The first time we played Vegas this year was on December 15th.  We lost that game 3-2.  It was the only game that we had Kap playing.  We were missing Ek and Midds and the Wall started in net.  We were also down a forward that game and played with 7 defensemen.

The second game was January 12th, a 4-1 loss.  We were tied going into the third period.  We played this game without Kap, Faber, Spurg and Brodin.  During that time when Kap and those three defensemen were out, we managed one win, a 3-1 win against lowly San Jose.

The last game two nights ago we lost 5-1.  We were only down 2-1 until a power play goal with just over 5 minutes left in the game.  An empty netter a few minutes later and the game was over.  Ek and Kap missed the game and Fleury started in net.

Get this team healthy and get the Bus in net and let's move on to round two.

 

[WheelSnipeCelly]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

But, I think the schedule moves back into our favor against the Devils

The 3 teams eyeing up the Wild, have harder matchups in the upcoming weeks. The Wild only have 2 games against teams that are higher than them in the standings. I'm anxious to see how it all plays out. 🤞
 

Wild Schedule (10 games left, 2pts ahead of Blues, 5pts ahead of Canucks, 6pts ahead of Flames):

• 2x games against much better teams (Caps + Stars)
• 6x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Devils x2, Rangers, Islanders, Flames and Canucks — granted the two NY teams are both 11 pts behind the Wild)
• 2x games against bottom dwellers (Sharks + Ducks)

 

Blues Schedule (9 games left, 2 pts back from WC1):

• 4x games against much better teams (Avs x2, Jets, Oilers)
• 1x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Red Wings)
• 4x games against bottom dwellers (Preds, Penguins, Kraken, Utah)

 

Canucks Schedule (10 games left, 3 pts back from WC2 with 1 game in hand):

• 5x games against much better teams (Jets, Knights x2, Stars, Avs)
• 2x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Blue Jackets, Wild)
• 3x games against bottom dwellers (Kraken, Ducks, Sharks)

 

Flames Schedule (12 games left, 4 pts back from WC2 with 3 games in hand):

• 7x games against much better teams (Stars, Oilers, Avs, Knights x2, Kings)
• 1x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Wild)
• 5x games against bottom dwellers (Utah, Ducks x2, Sharks x2)

[Imyourhuckleberry]

The Athletic - Russo

Quote

the team got a welcome sight 90 minutes before Thursday’s morning skate when Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek hit the ice for more than an hour with skating and skills coach Andy Ness.

Ness ran them through several shooting and puck-handling drills. Coach John Hynes confirmed that Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek have also had a handful of rehab skates before Thursday without pucks and sticks.

But fans still shouldn’t get their hopes up that either player will be back in the next week or so. The Wild have two more games on this homestand and then travel to play the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers and New York Islanders next week. Hynes said both players will come on the road trip — Kaprizov’s surgeon is in New York, so he’ll have another checkup — but neither will play.

It’s still a week-to-week basis. 

“Sometimes you’ve got to save the players from themselves,” [Hynes] said. “Both worked extremely hard off the ice, and now they’re getting to that next stage of the beginning stages of, ‘OK, let’s get on the ice and see how it feels and responds and then go from there.’”

One good piece of news for the Wild is that Marcus Foligno, who has missed the past five games with an upper-body injury, is expected to return against the Capitals.

 

[Enforceror]

19 minutes ago, WheelSnipeCelly said:

The 3 teams eyeing up the Wild, have harder matchups in the upcoming weeks. The Wild only have 2 games against teams that are higher than them in the standings. I'm anxious to see how it all plays out. 🤞
 

Wild Schedule (10 games left, 2pts ahead of Blues, 5pts ahead of Canucks, 6pts ahead of Flames):

• 2x games against much better teams (Caps + Stars)
• 6x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Devils x2, Rangers, Islanders, Flames and Canucks — granted the two NY teams are both 11 pts behind the Wild)
• 2x games against bottom dwellers (Sharks + Ducks)

 

Blues Schedule (9 games left, 2 pts back from WC1):

• 4x games against much better teams (Avs x2, Jets, Oilers)
• 1x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Red Wings)
• 4x games against bottom dwellers (Preds, Penguins, Kraken, Utah)

 

Canucks Schedule (10 games left, 3 pts back from WC2 with 1 game in hand):

• 5x games against much better teams (Jets, Knights x2, Stars, Avs)
• 2x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Blue Jackets, Wild)
• 3x games against bottom dwellers (Kraken, Ducks, Sharks)

 

Flames Schedule (12 games left, 4 pts back from WC2 with 3 games in hand):

• 7x games against much better teams (Stars, Oilers, Avs, Knights x2, Kings)
• 1x games against teams fighting for a playoff spot (Wild)
• 5x games against bottom dwellers (Utah, Ducks x2, Sharks x2)

Ok, so if this plays out how it "should," then here's where things end up. Assuming 2pts for each bottom dweller, 1 pt for playoff chasers, 0 pts for better teams.

Wild = 95pts

Blues = 91pts

Canucks = 88pts

Flames = 90pts

 

[OldDutchChip]

1 hour ago, SkolWild73 said:

I agree with what everyone else has commented so far, that we have a chance against anyone if we are healthy.  I still believe that we are going to do just enough, and the Blues will cool off enough that we end with the first wild card spot and end up playing Vegas.  I get that we were 0-3 against them this year but still think we can come out ahead.

The first time we played Vegas this year was on December 15th.  We lost that game 3-2.  It was the only game that we had Kap playing.  We were missing Ek and Midds and the Wall started in net.  We were also down a forward that game and played with 7 defensemen.

The second game was January 12th, a 4-1 loss.  We were tied going into the third period.  We played this game without Kap, Faber, Spurg and Brodin.  During that time when Kap and those three defensemen were out, we managed one win, a 3-1 win against lowly San Jose.

The last game two nights ago we lost 5-1.  We were only down 2-1 until a power play goal with just over 5 minutes left in the game.  An empty netter a few minutes later and the game was over.  Ek and Kap missed the game and Fleury started in net.

Get this team healthy and get the Bus in net and let's move on to round two.

 

i am going to say something wild here - but vegas should be scared of match up vs us (blues i think they dominate but wild are another story).

if Kap comes back at full 100% - i give us the edge.

superstars win nowadays. and Kap was on top. there is no one like him on vegas squad. stone is old. eichel is a punk and does play well, but i feel that we can neutralize him.

there it is - some optimism from me - get Kap fully healthy, protect him and watch us whoop them. 

Edited Thursday at 06:24 PM by OldDutchChip

[Imyourhuckleberry]

12 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Ok, so if this plays out how it "should," then here's where things end up. Assuming 2pts for each bottom dweller, 1 pt for playoff chasers, 0 pts for better teams.

Wild = 95pts

Blues = 91pts

Canucks = 88pts

Flames = 90pts

Blues will probably exceed 91 points, but if the Wild get 5 regulation wins from their remaining 10 games, the Blues would need to reach 96 points in order to finish in the 1st wildcard. That could be a little tougher for them to reach given their schedule difficulty increase after tonight.

The Blues might even pass the Wild in points at some point, but the last 4 games for the Wild, with Kaprizov and JEE, could allow them to jump back in front or even in points--Wild win tie breakers with the teams trailing them.

[Citizen Strife]

Hot goaltenders win championships.  Gus has stayef in that top goalie mix all season.  Anything can happen if he stands on his head.

Edited Thursday at 06:40 PM by Citizen Strife

[Enforceror]

15 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Blues will probably exceed 91 points, but if the Wild get 5 regulation wins from their remaining 10 games, the Blues would need to reach 96 points in order to finish in the 1st wildcard. That could be a little tougher for them to reach given their schedule difficulty increase after tonight.

The Blues might even pass the Wild in points at some point, but the last 4 games for the Wild, with Kaprizov and JEE, could allow them to jump back in front or even in points--Wild win tie breakers with the teams trailing them.

Definitely going to be a nail-biter all the way to the end. 

LFGW

[Enforceror]

22 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

i am going to say something wild here - but vegas should be scared of match up vs us (blues i think they dominate but wild are another story).

if Kap comes back at full 100% - i give us the edge.

superstars win nowadays. and Kap was on top. there is no one like him on vegas squad. stone is old. eichel is a punk and does play well, but i feel that we can neutralize him.

there it is - some optimism from me - get Kap fully healthy, protect him and watch us whoop them. 

[SkolWild73]

33 minutes ago, OldDutchChip said:

i am going to say something wild here - but vegas should be scared of match up vs us (blues i think they dominate but wild are another story).

if Kap comes back at full 100% - i give us the edge.

superstars win nowadays. and Kap was on top. there is no one like him on vegas squad. stone is old. eichel is a punk and does play well, but i feel that we can neutralize him.

there it is - some optimism from me - get Kap fully healthy, protect him Iand watch us whoop them. 

I love the optimism.  I will admit I did have to double check the poster😃.

[Dis-allowed display name]

I will be the wet blanket.....we're screwed.  

You've heard the lottery ads that say "You can't win if you don't play!"  well you can't win if you don't score.  Sure Ek and Kap would help, but we are once again dragging a tired carcass into the playoffs, if we make it.

We need to be healthy, we need our cap room, and we need two more pieces at least.  

Where is Red Lake when you need him?

[Protec]

The Wild are in big trouble if you asked me. They can't do some pretty key things. Gus is just one part, not enough to make up for everything that's missing. Just compare to who wins the Cup this season and you'll see the same formula MN lacks. 

[Willy the poor boy]

54 minutes ago, Dis-allowed display name said:

 

Where is Red Lake when you need him?

Pretty sure he's in the Wild locker room giving Merrill a rub down...

[Protec]

Final thought. The very suggestion of MN's difficulty of playoff path before even clinching is a loser-mindset. Like when groans about losing to the hot Blues or facing #2 Dallas, we're heard related to the Wild's draw of hard teams to beat. The Wild are a ways off right now. Very few known values to hang their hat on outside of goaltending. Sure that's great for playoffs but MN should someday stroll in with some actual swagger, not marketing-grit. It's BS. You can't luck your way to a Stanley Cup. Kinda, maybe but not really. There's always gonna be a CHI, STL, COL, or DAL to whomp the Wild around until the Wild become the dominator in the Central. They need to do that and cultivate that identity. They won't cause they can't. Maybe one day. Hope it's next year but I don't see it with contact-averse finesse guys and grinders. They need a shuffle that swaps out role players and even a talent guy or two.