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  • Wild Flip the Script in Bean Town; Rally in 3rd for 4-3 Win


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    Now for the game:

    Because of the injuries, Mike Yeo has had to make some changes to the line-up.

    The Wild came into tonight in the second of a back-to-back looking to assert their new style of play on national TV. With changes to the lines and the power play units, the Wild were looking for a more balanced approach and looking for ways to kick-start Koivu and Vanek.

    Things started well for the Wild as Nino Niederreiter was on the receiving end of a Thomas Vanek pass after a solid forecheck by Brodziak for the game's first goal. That line was easily the best line of the first period with Minnesota.

    After 40 minutes, the Wild were reeling and resembling the passive team that we've seen the last few years. They were dumping and chasing, over-passing, and having very little luck getting much through to Tukka Rask.

    That was until the third period. The Wild flipped the script on the Bruins, learning from what happened to them the night before. They came out with a vengeance and put 15 more shots on Tukka Rask. The first goal in the comeback was off the stick of Zach Parise. Literally off his stick. The hard work was done by Mikael Granlund with a nifty spin-around pass that went off Parise's stick that just happened to be in the crease. Minnesota's third goal came from Justin Fontaine after a scrum in front of the net jarred the puck loose and number 14 was able to pound it home.

    Looking to win the game, the Wild kept pouring it on and at the 14:07 mark, Marco Scandella, whose been having a fine beginning of his season, let go a slapper from the left point the deflected off a Bruin shin pad and into the net.

    Minnesota had to hold on for dear life as the Bruins pulled the goalie in the final minute in favor of the extra attacker. The Wild blocked shots and Backstrom made a couple key saves to secure the win in come-from-behind fashion.

    The Wild have dominated the shots in each of the last three games. Tonight, the Wild threw 42 pucks at Rask. Jason Pominville led in that department with eight shots, while Niederreiter and Fontaine, both of whom scored goals, had four shots each.

    Kyle Brodziak was nice to have back on the ice. His 62 percent on faceoffs was missed. Ryan Carter got an assist on Fontaine's goal was an abysmal 25 percent in the dots.

    Minnesota as a team only allowed the Bruins 28 shots on goal. They really took over after Boston's second goal at the 17 minute mark of the second. The Wild for the game at 5v5 were a 60.76 Fenwick For percent against one of the best Eastern Conference teams.

    The longest on-going saga that is the Wild scoreless power play is still scoreless. The players and Yeo have started to hint that the team's power play woes are starting to weigh heavily on the team.

    Good teams are able to have a short memory. They are able to find ways to win the tough games. When they are down on the 2nd of a back-to-back, they don't make excuses, they just do. If they want to be taken seriously, they needed this comeback to show that they are a different team. This was a good win.

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