Make-or-Break Stretch Coming for Minnesota Wild

Anyone thinking the team is "done" already can stop.  The team will not just give up on its own.  What this stretch should tell us is whether or not the weird parity this season has been on is a mirage or not.

Too many teams are where the Wild are (no mans land).  What I hope for is seeing is some separation happens so the Wild know by the fabled Thanksgiving, "What can we we do and what "should" we do, cause those are different things 

Wins and OT points will work wonders.  The "defeatist" will only happen if all these teams just beat the Wild to a pulp and they get nothing.

1 hour ago, Citizen Strife said:

Anyone thinking the team is "done" already can stop.  The team will not just give up on its own.  What this stretch should tell us is whether or not the weird parity this season has been on is a mirage or not.

Too many teams are where the Wild are (no mans land).  What I hope for is seeing is some separation happens so the Wild know by the fabled Thanksgiving, "What can we we do and what "should" we do, cause those are different things 

Wins and OT points will work wonders.  The "defeatist" will only happen if all these teams just beat the Wild to a pulp and they get nothing.

 

Wait, so there's a reason they play the games instead of announcing the stanley cup winner less than 25% of the way through the season?

1 hour ago, Citizen Strife said:

Anyone thinking the team is "done" already can stop.  The team will not just give up on its own.  What this stretch should tell us is whether or not the weird parity this season has been on is a mirage or not.

Too many teams are where the Wild are (no mans land).  What I hope for is seeing is some separation happens so the Wild know by the fabled Thanksgiving, "What can we we do and what "should" we do, cause those are different things 

Wins and OT points will work wonders.  The "defeatist" will only happen if all these teams just beat the Wild to a pulp and they get nothing.

 

The title of this article is accurate. The next two weeks will determine what this season's team is going to be. It's not over by a long shot, but they need to get hot, sooner than later. While a small sample size, thus far, it doesn't look that promising. I personally think the sooner they lean into "we aren't going to win the cup this season", the sooner they can get (all of) the youth in there for some real experience. Then next season, and beyond, will be much more promising.

A new front office and coaching staff is also on my Christmas list. Please Santa!?!

I looked it up again to be sure.  The top 5 team in the entire league is only four points above the Wild, with Chicago holding 2nd Wild Card two while points ahead....

Two whole points*

5th place: 22

26th place: 18

PARITY LEAGUE!

2 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

What this stretch should tell us is whether or not the weird parity this season has been on is a mirage or not.

I would settle for 60 minutes of playing hockey the right way.  

We seem to take off entire periods and our feet look sluggish at times.

To me, this is a huge comment. If Leo and Guerin are seeing long stretches of periods being taken off, that sounds like a coaching change about to happen.

Last game, the 4th line deserved 2nd line minutes.

Quote

It's the look of a hockey player. NHL players with missing teeth -- why don't they fix them?

This is easy, they are getting dental implants, but why do that unless you retire? They're expensive, and you don't need them. Put in the temps on a turtle and get them fixed when it's over. It will help your next career in broadcasting!

1 hour ago, MNCountryLife said:

I would settle for 60 minutes of playing hockey the right way.  

We seem to take off entire periods and our feet look sluggish at times.

Indeed. 

During the 'cap hell' era, it was always my hope that the games were competitive, and worth watching.  This season have featured a handful of games so far where it's felt like they were just phoning it in.  

Just because a team loses a hockey game doesnt mean it wasnt a 'fun' game to watch. 

A couple of rumors to talk about:

Looks like a couple of teams have started circling around Tage. We are not one of them yet. But, if Tage is being listened to, Tuch must also be listened to.

DeBoer is being rumored to replace Burnett. I wouldn't mind bringing Bruno home, but it would piss me off that DeBoer was available and accepted a position with a worse team. I don't love DeBoer, but he may be exactly what our team needs. 

7 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

Just because a team loses a hockey game doesnt mean it wasnt a 'fun' game to watch. 

True but if you are a Sabres or Leafs fan waiting for 14 years for playoff and 57+ years for Stanley Cup it gets a bit tiresome 

1 hour ago, Citizen Strife said:

I looked it up again to be sure.  The top 5 team in the entire league is only four points above the Wild, with Chicago holding 2nd Wild Card two while points ahead....

Most also have a game in hand. But regardless, the most telling stat of where a team is at, and where they will end up, is the goal differential. Without fail, almost every single time, the teams with a positive differential are in and the negative teams are out. The Wild still have a big hill to climb. You are correct, they are close in points, but that is not the whole story. The good teams keep winning, so the Wild have to be near perfect to gain ground.

1 hour ago, goenzoy said:

True but if you are a Sabres or Leafs fan waiting for 14 years for playoff and 57+ years for Stanley Cup it gets a bit tiresome 

I'm a minnesota sports fan...

6 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

I'm a minnesota sports fan...

Good but is this less painful ???? 

4 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

I looked it up again to be sure.  The top 5 team in the entire league is only four points above the Wild, with Chicago holding 2nd Wild Card two while points ahead....

Just a little context: Currently the Oilers (-9 goal differential) are neck in neck with the Sharks and the Ducks lead the Pacific Division. The Panthers have one points more than the Islanders. The Capitals are dead last in the Metro division.

I haven't been excited by MN's (-8 goal differential) start this year by any means but I'm betting there are some fans of other powerhouse teams that aren't exactly thrilled either. It's been a weird season.

1 hour ago, goenzoy said:

Good but is this less painful ???? 

Like Sisyphus, sometimes you just need to find meaning and happiness in the journey, even if the result is absurd and fruitless.

9 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Just a little context: Currently the Oilers (-9 goal differential) are neck in neck with the Sharks and the Ducks lead the Pacific Division. The Panthers have one points more than the Islanders. The Capitals are dead last in the Metro division.

I haven't been excited by MN's (-8 goal differential) start this year by any means but I'm betting there are some fans of other powerhouse teams that aren't exactly thrilled either. It's been a weird season.

And then there's Colorado, who's +28 right now.

For even more context, last season only 2 teams made the playoffs with a negative differential: the Habs (-20) and the Wild (-11).

Personally, I think having parity is a good thing for the league.  Having teams eliminated from contention before St. Patricks Day isn't much fun.

Really hoping for some consistent hockey in the next two weeks.  Looking at some different stats today trying to figure out what this team needs to do better.

1. Finish the scoring/high danger chances.  

     The Wild are 6th in the league this year in scoring chances for, and 9th in high danger chances for, but are somehow 22nd in goals for and tied for 30th in goals for in 5-on-5 with 26.  Main reason?  Our overall shooting percentage is 27th at 9.8%.  The teams worse than us?  Calgary, Washington, Nashville and Buffalo, all of the last place teams, plus the Rangers.  Our 5-on-5 shooting percentage ranks 31st at a dismal 6.3%, which is .1% better than last place Calgary.  Main culprits that are way below their career averages are Tarasenko at 6.7%, Ek at 3.6%, and Trenin and Foligno at 0%.  If Ek was at his career average of 9.8%, that is 3-4 more goals that might have been the difference of wins instead of OT losses.  Sprinkle in a goal or two for Tarasenko, Foligno and Trenin, and we could be at 22 points instead of 18

2.  Limiting scoring/high danger changes.

     This year, we have given up more scoring chances against with 424 than any other team, and only 9 teams have given up more high danger scoring chances against.  In, comparison, last year we were ranked 12th best in scoring chances against, and only 2 teams gave up less high danger scoring chances against.  I know some of the blame has fallen to Gus, but if we can clean that up just a bit, that should help.

Hopefully we start putting some pucks in the net, stop hitting so many posts (thought I heard that we led the league in that), and limit the scoring chances so we can turn this thing around in the next couple of weeks.  

32 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

eliminated from contention before St. Patricks Day isn't much fun.

Why not you can order more Irish wiskhey to deal with the depression what follows  

Or spend the rest of regular season with cherry diet coke 

47 minutes ago, SkolWild73 said:

Hopefully we start putting some pucks in the net, stop hitting so many posts (thought I heard that we led the league in that), and limit the scoring chances so we can turn this thing around in the next couple of weeks.  

27 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

Thanks.  Not number 1, but towards the top.

The Wild get all four points this weekend.  Foligno and Trenin said, "We hit people, a lot."

12 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

Foligno and Trenin said, "We hit people, a lot."

Frankly, with those two, it's what they're paid to do...

24 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

Frankly, with those two, it's what they're paid to do...

Agreed.  These two pylons were doing what they’re capable of doing during an NHL game.  Bang bodies on the end board and create loose pucks.  

So, 4 pts. in the last 2 games. Now what?

Last night I watched a couple of shifts of OgZ. Just followed him with my eyes. I don't have a clue as to what this kid is thinking, but he has no clue how to find a soft spot on the ice, and is constantly puck watching and whipping his stick. 

It's like watching someone's little brother play with the big kids, he's just there, on the ice, getting in the way. Now, the troublesome part of this is that I saw the same type of thing at the world jrs. tournament a couple of years back. I guess I would call it a lack of hockey sense. He skates well, he was hitting people, his stick is still too slow, but he just doesn't put all of those things together in a decent package.

He also has a tendency to skate himself into trouble with the puck or without the puck. Defensively, he often times was puck watching, skating himself out of position, and guarding air. Well, maybe he just needs a few more games? Folks, my hope is he goes back down and lights up the A and gives himself some value. This value will be better served in a trade and elsewhere. I've officially thrown in the towel on the kid.

9 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I don't have a clue as to what this kid is thinking, but he has no clue how to find a soft spot on the ice, and is constantly puck watching and whipping his stick.

Agree.  It’s the lack of any hockey sense that concerns me with Ogzy.  He brings alot of energy but it’s usually a mad rush toward the puck carrier, then when carrier passes puck ogz makes a mad dash to ‘guard air’.  Ogz may be a tweener with his Achilles heal being his ability to process the game at nhl speed. Never say never but not holding my breath

1 minute ago, Pewterschmidt said:

Agree.  It’s the lack of any hockey sense that concerns me with Ogzy.  He brings alot of energy but it’s usually a mad rush toward the puck carrier, then when carrier passes puck ogz makes a mad dash to ‘guard air’.  Ogz may be a tweener with his Achilles heal being his ability to process the game at nhl speed. Never say never but not holding my breath

Injuries will likely keep him backfilling in the lineup so the “he just needs more opportunities” crowd can come to a verdict