Gamethread: Wild at Blues (6:30 p.m.)

Could someone stop Protec from doing the Johansson hate spam please?  It was funny at first, but he's been at it for like a week (if not longer) and it's getting quite annoying.

 

Edited October 16 by Citizen Strife

Good goal against for Ogie to learn from. He committed the cardinal sin losing the puck within 10' of the blueline. It pinballed a little bit to end up on Joseph's stick but that's the kind of stuff that'll cost ya. 

Stay healthy boys. This might get chippy. 

Just now, Citizen Strife said:

Could someone stop Protec from doing the Johansson hate spam please?  He's been at it for like a week (if not longer) and it's getting quite annoying.

 

Can't stop, won't stop. 😁

2 minutes ago, Protec said:

Can't stop, won't stop. 😁

Gus GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

GUS BUS SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRESSSSSSSSSSSSS

No frick'n way!

See, ya take NoJo out and everything is amazing again. 

5 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

Could someone stop Protec from doing the Johansson hate spam please?  It was funny at first, but he's been at it for like a week (if not longer) and it's getting quite annoying.

 

You know how to stop it? NoJo play better!! Or get the loser off the team!!!

Edited October 16 by FredJohnson

Gus Bus owns. Playing well to start the year and get's a goal. I can go to bed happy. 

1 minute ago, Protec said:

No frick'n way!

See, ya take NoJo out and everything is amazing again. 

Couldn't help yourself, could you. LOL

There's a result the Wild can build upon. Get a couple days rest, get JEE back and get another win out in Columbus.

Well the netminder has more goals than NoJo, so there's that. 🤣

Just now, Imyourhuckleberry said:

There's a result the Wild can build upon. Get a couple days rest, get JEE back and get another win out in Columbus.

and keep NoJo in the press box

Kaprizov is playing as a top 5 player that he is. 

Brodin is again Brodin (he was a little off first 3 games)

Marat is growing on me

Gus is still good

Harty awesome game

Rossi (a bit bumpy but ok)

Midds and Chissy very good game

Hunt was also ok

Biggest thing - Trenin is slowly waking up. Good - let's see what you got. 

 

Edited October 16 by OldDutchChip

Post-game interview, Gus says he should be in on PP meetings now. 

Haha!

9 minutes ago, Protec said:

Well the netminder has more goals than NoJo, so there's that. 🤣

As many goals as Kap

Put Gus on the top line!!

Seeing the Wild beat STL is the best. 

See! I told you all we needed four goalies. 

12 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Could someone stop Protec from doing the Johansson hate spam please?  It was funny at first, but he's been at it for like a week (if not longer) and it's getting quite annoying.

 

P.S. I've been. At it since I was Protecbucketspidercage. Be glad Suter isn't on the team anymore. 😁

Was it just me or were the announcers on ESPN 100% rooting for the Blues.  Making comments like "Wild got some Puck Luck".  Just kept talking about how Blues have been there before and expected them eventually take over.  Wild clearly have very little respect at the national stage.

I was impressed with Hartman.  I wasn't even looking for him yet he just popped up constantly.  Kirill TOI 28 minutes... WOW!!  Darn near half the game.  Now there is a player that wants to win.  The only player I felt didn't play that well was Freddy.  Trenin and Lauko seem to be fitting in nicely.  Best game I have seen by Trenin.  All we had to do was keep Nojo out of the lineup.

Jon Merrill continues to be the worst player on the Wild roster. I cringe whenever #4 is on the ice. 

Positives: Showed glimpses of physical play in the first three games, is willing to block shots, and can occasionally makes nice outlet passes.

Negatives: Is typically unwilling to play physical around the net and generally ineffective when attempting to do so. He defends his zone like a small forward, relying way too much on poke checks. While he makes occasional good passes, he is more likely to give up the puck when pressed. His Corsi rating (shot attempt differential per 60 minutes while at even strength play) after four games is -11.7. Zero takeaways vs four giveaways. Merrill is a large-sized version of Calen Addison, minus the offensive skill. Ouch!

While Protec correctly pointed out the Ohgren misplay on the Blues' goal last night, I believe the lion's share of blame belongs to Merrill. He jumped up toward the blue line in a weak attempt to poke-check the puck away, leaving Joseph behind him unattended. And on the non-goal shot that got by Gus at the end of the second period, the Blues player got off the shot from above the circle only because Merrill half-heartedly tapped the puck to him. Jeesh.

End of rant.

 

15 hours ago, gagu said:

Jon Merrill continues to be the worst player on the Wild roster. I cringe whenever #4 is on the ice. 

Positives: Showed glimpses of physical play in the first three games, is willing to block shots, and can occasionally makes nice outlet passes.

Negatives: Is typically unwilling to play physical around the net and generally ineffective when attempting to do so. He defends his zone like a small forward, relying way too much on poke checks. While he makes occasional good passes, he is more likely to give up the puck when pressed. His Corsi rating (shot attempt differential per 60 minutes while at even strength play) after four games is -11.7. Zero takeaways vs four giveaways. Merrill is a large-sized version of Calen Addison, minus the offensive skill. Ouch!

While Protec correctly pointed out the Ohgren misplay on the Blues' goal last night, I believe the lion's share of blame belongs to Merrill. He jumped up toward the blue line in a weak attempt to poke-check the puck away, leaving Joseph behind him unattended. And on the non-goal shot that got by Gus at the end of the second period, the Blues player got off the shot from above the circle only because Merrill half-heartedly tapped the puck to him. Jeesh.

End of rant.

 

I think the reason Merrill is playing the way he is (and has been for three years) is that 1) he is too slow to play the body and 2) he has never been a physical player - he is a "leaner". He leans on guys to move them. He can't catch them to lean on anymore.