The Chickens Have Come To Roost For the Wild

So here we are, nearing the end of the season, mercifully. At the time I started writing this, the Minnesota Wild were eight points behind the Los Angeles Kings with nine games to go. Yesterday, the Colorado Avalanche eliminated them from playoff contention.

The chickens have come home to roost.

In my last article, I know I went on a tirade about some of the things that got us here: the system, playing along the boards, and coaching. And I still stand by that. So, when I watched the last couple of games they played against the San Jose Sharks in that American hockey hotbed, and then against the Vegas, who have hidden half of their real roster on long-term injured reserve until the playoffs, and then have a salary over the cap because it’s legal. I watched those games closer than I typically would.

Did I see anything new? Heck no. 

I think Minnesota’s head coach went to the well one too many times, trying to win in overtime by trying the old ‘pull the goalie trick’ again. A seemingly one-in-ten success rate, if you ask me, by hoping the one shot you get off goes in. I get why they might have waited until overtime to try. It is easier to control the puck in a 4-on-3 situation than a 6-on-5. 

But even then, wouldn’t the strategy be to keep any points in the standings away from Las Vegas? Play 6-on-5, then? But what happened? 

An overtime loss.

Also, while watching the Vegas game, it was apparent they had a system that everyone bought into. When there was an odd man rush into the offensive zone, the initial puck carrier would hold the puck until Minnesota’s defenseman made a move towards the puck carrier, only to have the puck carrier slow down and slide a pass to their linemate for a redirect or actual shot. 

Considering that this happened a lot in that game, and with Filip Gustavsson standing on his head, keeping the lead, and shut out in play, you could see this type of play happening a lot. It was this play that gave Vegas their tying goal with roughly six minutes left to play.

So, yeah, that happened.

Since that game, I have been able to watch a couple of other games featuring different teams. Florida Panthers playing at home against the New York Islanders. A rare home loss for Florida against a team that is fighting for a playoff berth, and it showed. Florida is known as a tough defensive team, and still, the Islanders seemed to find a way to score three goals. They had an extra step, giving the Panthers fits and working within a system. 

After that, I watched my other favorite team, the New Jersey Devils, play at the New York Rangers, a team I loathe. The game got off to a great start, with a total of 8 players getting ejected 2 seconds into the game. I hate fighting, but this was entertaining. 

The Rangers prevailed despite New Jersey’s efforts. A younger team with a great forward group, a struggling defensive corps, and average goaltending. Both teams were going back and forth throughout the game, definitely working within a system during their breakouts and their play in the offensive zone. 

Back to the Wild. They beat the Ottawa Senators. Back-to-back losses against Colorado and Winnipeg. Then, the highlight of the last 10 days: They called Jesper Wallstedt up from Iowa for his second start of the season. The result? A 4-0 shutout win against the Chicago Blackhawks! 

Good job, kid! We’re both happy for and proud of you! This is awesome, and we’re all anxiously excited to see your progress. John Hynes also said that the Wild may give Wallstedt another start before the end of the season. 

If I were a betting man, I'd guess that they want Filip Gustavsson and Marc Andre-Fleury for the remainder of the starts against Colorado, Vegas, and the Kings to those two guys during this last road trip to try and stay relevant. 

That means he’d possibly play in the American hockey hotbed of San Jose. Or, even better, the last game of the season against the Seattle Kraken so he can get a taste of playing in front of the home crowd that would really like to see him play in person.

And so now, as I finish writing this piece, Minnesota is 9 points behind Vegas with 5 games to go. If Vegas even gets one more point, our playoff hopes are dashed. 

Cock-A-Doodle-Do hockey faithful…