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  • Golden Knights Hoping Depth Can Wear Down Wild In Series

    Image courtesy of © Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
    Thomas Williams

    By Thomas Williams -

    That's Wild

    • It's fairly obvious, but one major thing that the Vegas Golden Knights have over the Minnesota Wild in the first-round matchup, is depth at the forward position. They even said it out loud. The Golden Knights are hoping that they can just roll though the lines and take advantage of having more talent down their lineup than the Wild, to push them to the second round. [TSN]
    • The Wild can win the first round if this one specific thing from Game 1 doesn't change. [Hockey Wilderness]
    • The Wild are about to play a game that ESPN is trying to hide from the world. [Hockey Wilderness]
    • Expect adjustments coming from Vegas ahead of Game 2. [NHL.com]
    • One major win the Wild did have in their loss (if we can say that) is Ryan Hartman not taking the bait. [InForum]

    Off the trail...

    • The Vancouver Canucks' front office held a press conference on Monday and it was, dramatic. One major point that came of it is that they are going to try to do everything they can to keep defenseman Quinn Hughes, and maybe that includes tampering. [NHL.com]
    • Before the Under-18 Worlds get underway, a quick 2025 NHL Draft ranking from Steven Ellis. [Daily Faceoff]
    • The Seattle Kraken fired head coach Dan Bylsma after just one season. [NHL.com]
    By Thomas Williams  

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    RedLake

    Doesn't take much to shut down a rusty Kaprizov and Boldy. We have 1 line and 4 d-men. The Bettman Knights have 4 solid lines. Should be a very quick series.

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    IllicitFive
    1 hour ago, RedLake said:

    Doesn't take much to shut down a rusty Kaprizov and Boldy. We have 1 line and 4 d-men. The Bettman Knights have 4 solid lines. Should be a very quick series.

    You mean the 2 goal scoring Boldy and the 2 assist Kap from game 1? Little puck luck one way and a few calls being made that should have been made, game 1 may have been different. The stuck with them on the physicality, had some great chances that didn't bounce their way, gus looked sharp, even on the first goal by vegas, while maybe a bit deep, it took an absolute perfect shot to get that to go in. Perhaps I have my green and wheat glasses on but I don't think this looks like a very quick or easier series.

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    RedLake
    11 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

    You mean the 2 goal scoring Boldy and the 2 assist Kap from game 1? Little puck luck one way and a few calls being made that should have been made, game 1 may have been different. The stuck with them on the physicality, had some great chances that didn't bounce their way, gus looked sharp, even on the first goal by vegas, while maybe a bit deep, it took an absolute perfect shot to get that to go in. Perhaps I have my green and wheat glasses on but I don't think this looks like a very quick or easier series.

    I really hope something good happens for the Wild.

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    Willy the poor boy
    2 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    I hope Rossi doesn't get healthy scratched again tonight.  We need a contribution from him to have a chance to get over on the Knights.  Depth scoring baby.

    He got 12 minutes. WTF is that all about? I' am more pissed at Hinsey than Rossi.

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    Pewterschmidt
    16 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

    He got 12 minutes. WTF is that all about? I' am more pissed at Hinsey than Rossi.

    It appears that Hinzy is seeing what we're seeing and pulling in the reigns on Rossi.  Doesn't trust him too much.  This started with Hynzy a couple weeks ago.

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    Willy the poor boy
    50 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    It appears that Hinzy is seeing what we're seeing and pulling in the reigns on Rossi.  Doesn't trust him too much.  This started with Hynzy a couple weeks ago.

    I see a lot of posts saying Rossi isn't one of BG's guys and I believe that's true, but something I heard a couple weeks ago was new for me, is that Rossi and Hinesy don't get along either.

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    Imyourhuckleberry

    Speaking of depth(in this case prospect depth), Ryder Ritchie's Medicine Hat team took out their opponent in 4 games, so they've been waiting patiently for their upcoming opponent since Thursday. The other three series in the quarterfinals might all go to 7 games. Two are already moving to game 7 while the 3rd is playing game 6 tonight to determine if a game 7 is necessary.

    In 9 playoff games, Ritchie has accumulated 6 goals and 5 assists.

    His teammate, and likely #1 overall in the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna(age 17), has 6 goals and 16 assists through those 9 games. Ritchie is 3rd in scoring behind McKenna and 21-year-old, Oasiz Weisblatt, their 5'9" 1st line center.

    Medicine Hat should open their semifinal series within a few days, I imagine. Friday or Saturday seem fairly likely given that Wednesday is the last game of the quarterfinal matchups, even if they all extend to 7 games.

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    hydguy75
    7 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    His teammate, and likely #1 overall in the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna(age 17), has 6 goals and 16 assists through those 9 games. Ritchie is 3rd in scoring behind McKenna and 21-year-old, Oasiz Weisblatt, their 5'9" 1st line center.

    Perfect!  Bogo isn't cuttin it anymore, Braz is too slow, and the Moose too old for next year.  Bring RR and he cohorts over as fresh replacements, and we can be the new MN Lolly Pop Guild.  

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    mnfaninnc

    A nice Wild win as I watched this morning...no, not live. I've got a few thoughts:

    • Tonight was the Gustavsson we needed
    • Johansson continues to play inspired. Don't resign, this is a mirage
    • We have a good top line in Boldy-Ek-Kaprizov
    • Our 2nd line scored tonight, but scares me every shift
    • Young players and discipline. This doesn't always turn out. Faber started out the game running around trying to do too much. He needs to stay disciplined in his zone and stay in position
    • Rossi on 4th line? I'm thinking his knee isn't right still
    • Wild did not play so scared. Their defenders pinched like they did the whole season, and they should keep that up
    • Hartman and Foligno have had 2 solid playoff games

    And, the big thing I noticed was the hitting by almost everyone. It seems that several of our players played the long game in the regular season, not trying to get real dinged up, but come playoffs they have been finishing their checks.

    ODC and a few others who follow this line of thought and I disagree with the desperation of having to win this series. I don't think this series is about winning it, I think this series is separating the wheat from the chaff. We're going to see who our playoff performers are and the guys we can build a cup run around. 

    After 2 games, I thought our top line has done well. I thought our top 4 D have done well. Hartman and Foligno have been visible in a good way. Johansson has done well too, but don't take the bait, apparently he's like Randy Moss and just plays when he wants to. I've got some mixed reactions on Zuccarello. Trenin has played big and seems faster. Breezers and Rossi have not been impressive, though Rossi has shown he is responsible and starting to get some speed back. He's even had a few hits. 

    The Bogosian-Buium duo has not been good. Bogosian may have a January 2025 expiration date stamped on him somewhere, and Buium has a lot to learn. He made some plays that worked in college but haven't here. I think he'll definitely start out the season on the roster next season, but he's got to start resetting his clock to do things quicker and safer. 

    The example I have is the 2nd goal Vegas scored. He had a nice poke check off the player he was guarding, however, that poke check went straight up the slot and the defender grabbed it, skated in and beat Goose. That worked in college for him, but it's got to be safer here. I think the 1st goal he got caught in no man's land. This is a great lesson for the young wonder kid. 

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