Article: The Wild Are Wile E. Coyote Suspended In Midair

[Tom Schreier]

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[Citizen Strife]

MEEP MEEP!

[mnfaninnc]

I loved this cartoon as a kid. It was probably my favorite Looney Toons series. I've even still got my 7th grade plastics shop class road runner molded art somewhere in my room. 

This feels different, though. I'm seeing attention to detail and a suffocating defense that is playing very disciplined. I'm seeing a top line that got to play very little together in the regular season, and is very tough to handle.

Yet, what should we expect for game 4. I'd expect a goaltending change for Vegas, going with Schmid unless somehow Lehner comes alive off LTIR. I'd also expect more physicality coming from Vegas, though, continuing to neuter the Vegas top line has to be a priority, and Heinzy can do that with tonight's matchups. 

I'd expect an immediate onslaught coming from Vegas to start the game, the Wild need to hold on, pack it in, make sure shots are coming from the outside and box out all traffic. Goose needs to start out hot like he has been, and somehow, we need to score and play from in front like we did for the 1st 9 games of the season. 

It's a 4 pm game EDT, which makes it a 1 pm game PDT. We need to take advantage of this game time and hope to jump all over them from the start. If we do this, I can see a lot of frustration in the Vegas game, and likely more PPs for us. This is where we must make them pay! 

Of course, I think this game may be more important for us than Vegas. If we let them off the hook, as Tom indicated, we may be staring straight at the abyss of our playoff failures. So, while I do expect Vegas to come our with a barrage of offense, we need that same intensity to start and have a barrage of our own. 

In a weird sort of way, I truly believe that this game will go along way in Guerin's evaluation process for the season, and future contracts. I think this is a huge game for Goose and Rossi. If both have big and noticeably big games today, this will likely be rewarded in the offseason!

[Enforceror]

If only we could elevate to Bugs Bunny status.

[Burnt Toast]

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

expect an immediate onslaught coming from Vegas to start the game

This series has had a lot of swings in momentum. I’m hoping for a Wild counterpunch if Vegas brings the gas. Vegas’ top line must be feeling the heat with how MN has been shutting them down. I hope the Wild bring the 100% effort they have shown in the first 3 games. I’m expecting a battle.