Kirill Kaprizov's Hat Trick Helps Wild Win Over Hurricanes

Ah kap, thank goodness you are here. This team would be ridiculously boring otherwise.

I hope yurov and k-nut come over soon to form a Russian super line

Amazing how some guys just know how to win.

The Wild has no reason the be tied 1-1 after 1.  They had no business leading, but Gus and Kaprizov said, "Nah.  We can win." So they did.  Such a messed up game.

12 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

They had no business leading, but Gus and Kaprizov said, "Nah.  We can win."

Given that Eriksson Ek scored the game winner, and assisted on one of Kaprizov's goals, along with completely screening the goalie so he had no chance, it seems odd the article suggested this was a one man show.

Gustavsson clearly played a key role as well, but nice to see KK97 lighting the lamp multiple times. That's huge for him and the team.

58 minutes ago, kapislife said:

k-nut

This one's a keeper

2 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Given that Eriksson Ek scored the game winner, and assisted on one of Kaprizov's goals, along with completely screening the goalie so he had no chance, it seems odd the article suggested this was a one man show.

Gustavsson clearly played a key role as well, but nice to see KK97 lighting the lamp multiple times. That's huge for him and the team.

So, what you're saying is it was a 3 man show? I was blacked out so I didn't get to watch but the statistics suggested that the Wild got completely dominated and just snuck in a couple like Thomas wrote about. 

The Wild also did what they had to do for Shooter to go looking for top 4 defensive help. I certainly hope MAF was on hand to watch the domination, and that he might consider Carolina a possible destination. I can tell you the weather gets real nice come March!

What would be decent compensation for Fleury? Well, Carolina currently has 4 RHS defenders on the squad. They've also got Brady Skjei who I believe would be a solid defender for us. Orlov, Slaven, and Skjei has someone playing in not the top 4, but all 3 are capable. Pesce would be the guy I'd target of the RHS defenders. 

Carolina simply has too many defenders for their roster especially with their cap space. Their goaltending has been a problem all year. Kochetkov is a decent prospect, yet an A goalie. Andersen is suffering from blood clots. While Carolina doesn't have the best record in the East right now, last night's game probably told the story of their season: Dominating teams except for in net. Raanta is also often injured. One would think that MAF could solve some problems there. And, Pesce or Skjei are a couple of guys I wouldn't mind extending.

Is the game worth the watch 2 days late, or should I just see if I can find highlights?

Looking at the prospects,

It looks like Heidt is slowing down a bit, but Haight crossed the 50 pt. mark.

Firstov with another apple, he's up to 30 pts.

Petrovsky and Kumpulainen kept up their pace of PPG type players.

That's about it over the weekend.

21 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I can tell you the weather gets real nice come March!

Asheville is one of my favorite cities along with Charlottesville SC which can't be that far from Asheville. We have contemplated retiring there.

21 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

Is the game worth the watch 2 days late, or should I just see if I can find highlights?

I'd watch it. Gus had a hell of a game even though a lot of Carolina's shots were from the outside.

It's watchable but frustrating for most of the game.  Sloppy throughout but Gus playing prime Gus.

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

Petrovsky

Petro is the prospect I’m most excited about.  Why? I’ve watched him with my own eyes (WJC) And he’s consistently delivered points against world best caliber competition.  
this is very different from beat writer hype without empirical evidence, and/or a player putting up points in XYZ league in Moose Knuckle Alberta.  Or putting up points in some Euro no check men’s league

58 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

Asheville is one of my favorite cities along with Charlottesville SC which can't be that far from Asheville. We have contemplated retiring there.

Asheville to Raleigh is roughly the same distance that Madison, WI is from St Paul, MN.

1 hour ago, Willy the poor boy said:

Asheville is one of my favorite cities along with Charlottesville SC which can't be that far from Asheville. We have contemplated retiring there.

I wasn't able to pull up a Charlottesville, SC. There was a Charlottesville, VA, Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC (right on the border). 

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

Looking at the prospects,

It looks like Heidt is slowing down a bit, but Haight crossed the 50 pt. mark.

Firstov with another apple, he's up to 30 pts.

Petrovsky and Kumpulainen kept up their pace of PPG type players.

That's about it over the weekend.

Yurov leading his KHL team(1st in their division) with 38 points in 49 games has to be the most exciting development for Wild prospects. On the other hand, Khusnutdinov has only reached 12 points in 40 games this year after posting 41 in 63 games the year before.

I know KHL teams mess around with playing time, but I wonder if Khusnutdinov is further away from helping the Wild than people might have been thinking.

Yurov Is looking like he'll be the legitimate top 10 talent that people were predicting in his draft year. It will be interesting to see how much muscle he's added by the time he's next in Minnesota. He was somewhat lean previously, but given that he's 20 now, it will likely get easier for him to add muscle to his frame.

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

There was a Charlottesville, VA, Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC (right on the border). 

All very nice places. Charleston is pretty steamy in the summer but winters are great. We used to winter over out on Isle of Palms and loved it.

5 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

The Wild has no reason the be tied 1-1 after 1.  They had no business leading, but Gus and Kaprizov said, "Nah.  We can win." So they did.  Such a messed up game.

Yeah, I didn’t see the game but looking at the stats of the game, it looked like we had no business winning that game. Unsustainable winning at its finest. 

2 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

I wasn't able to pull up a Charlottesville, SC. There was a Charlottesville, VA, Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC (right on the border). 

 

Ya, sorry, I meant Charleston SC. 

2 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

On the other hand, Khusnutdinov has only reached 12 points in 40 games this year after posting 41 in 63 games the year before.

I know KHL teams mess around with playing time, but I wonder if Khusnutdinov is further away from helping the Wild than people might have been thinking.

Dino was traded earlier in the year when St. Petersberg was messing around with his TOI. He went to Sochi who looked to be in the hunt but has just fallen completely apart. I suspect that Dino doesn't have a lot of help in Sochi.

15 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

Ya, sorry, I meant Charleston SC. 

I think your looking at 4.5 to 5 hours apart. Essentially it's a straight shot on I-26. It's about 3 hours from Charlotte, and Asheville is another 2 away for me.

Last night really only had the Baby Wild in action:

• Beckman scores again
• Mikey Milne with a goal and assist
• Steven Fogarty got the 3rd goal

Next up- Caps, Preds, Ducks. Then 10 days of silence. 

What needs to happen in the next 3 games, all home games, to go for it, or know it's over?

Looking at the February schedule, it doesn't look that easy.

1 hour ago, mnfaninnc said:

Next up- Caps, Preds, Ducks. Then 10 days of silence. 

What needs to happen in the next 3 games, all home games, to go for it, or know it's over?

At this point a win in regulation vs Nashville and a total of at least 5 pts and maybe I might start entertaining the idea that playoffs are in reach.

They are all big games from now on. The Wild have already started playoff hockey just a little sooner than they do most years. Preds is a big game as that is who we are chasing for the last wild card spot. 

Seems the Wild have a knack of beating teams they shouldn't especially from the East. When the schedule looks tough they seem to find a way to prevail. This team will be in the playoffs. 

21 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Petro is the prospect I’m most excited about.  Why? I’ve watched him with my own eyes (WJC) And he’s consistently delivered points against world best caliber competition.  
this is very different from beat writer hype without empirical evidence, and/or a player putting up points in XYZ league in Moose Knuckle Alberta.  Or putting up points in some Euro no check men’s league

Ah yes, the nothing leagues of the CHL. Where only 50% of the entire NHL came from. 

The WHL is hardly an XYZ league. The Swedish hockey league is a checking league and so is the KHL. In fact, the women's league in Sweden allows checking as well.