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  • Wild Possibly Going With Different Lineup For Game 5

    Image courtesy of © Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images
    Thomas Williams

    By Thomas Williams -

    That's Wild

    The Minnesota Wild are kind of in a do-or-die attitude right now. With a very important Game 5 that could really decide the result of the series against the Vegas Golden Knights, head coach John Hynes is possibly going with a different lineup. Primarily, he is swapping out Zeev Buium for Jon Merrill.

     

    It certainly doesn't give you that dynamism that Buium can potentially bring, but it is a much more stable blue line defensively and that if the top forwards are producing, that's all the Wild need.

    • Filip Gustavsson's playoff performances are creating a complicated future in the crease. [Hockey Wilderness]
    • Marcus Foligno has been at his best in these playoffs. [Pioneer Press]
    • Having Marco Rossi as the fourth-line center is mad, and it must come to an end. [Hockey Wilderness]

    Off the trail...

    • The Pittsburgh Penguins and head coach Mike Sullivan mutually agreed to part ways, so now several jobs are available for the taking all across the NHL. Who will get a job this cycle? [ESPN]
    • "Total disbelief": The hockey world reacts to the Edmonton Oilers coming back to even the series against the Los Angeles Kings, when they really haven't been playing well. [Edmonton Journal]
    • Panthers stun Lightning to take a 3-1 lead in the series. [TheScore]
    By Thomas Williams  

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    M_Nels

    As much as I want to see Zeev in there this is probably the right move honestly. Had high hopes for him to be a gamer but the moment is too big for him right now. REALLY makes you appreciate how good Faber was right out of the gate.

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    Beast

    Changing out a 3rd paring defenseman is pretty inconsequential right now.  The part I don’t like is taking Zeev off of the power play.  I’m sure Vegas is shaking in their boots at the thought of Merrill.

    Honestly, I’d like to say do whatever gives you the best chance to win the series, but I think they blew that opportunity in OT the other night. The odds of them beating Vegas in 2 of 3 while Vegas has home ice isn’t happening.  It’s much more likely they end up losing in 6 than pull this one out.  So, I’d like to see Buium get some more ice time and playoff experience.

    They did a similar thing with Rossi.  Call him up, throw him on the 3rd/4th line with no good linemates, then claim he’s not ready when he doesn’t put up a point per game.  Just turn Zeev loose with someone like Spurgeon or Brodin.  That might spark something and turn the series back in their favor.  Take a risk and try something with some upside.  Going back to Merrill isn’t going to accomplish anything.

    Why not sit one of these forwards that are doing nothing and roll with 7 D to keep Zeev’s offensive upside in the lineup?  You’re already playing Kirill, Ek, and Boldy a thousand minutes a night.

    Very uninspiring.  I feel a butt kicking coming tonight.

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    Scalptrash

    Just like death and taxes, Ek is injured in the playoffs again. Great player, but too injury prone to be dependable when needed most. The same could be said for Kaprizov, who I believe, is still not 100%. They are both very delicate.

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    SkolWild73
    26 minutes ago, Scalptrash said:

    Just like death and taxes, Ek is injured in the playoffs again. Great player, but too injury prone to be dependable when needed most. The same could be said for Kaprizov, who I believe, is still not 100%. They are both very delicate.

    I have not heard that Ek is injured.  Hynes said yesterday that it was a maintenance day and that he would play today.  Did something change?

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    hydguy75

    EEK is in the starting lineup for tonight.  I had heard also he was injured, but shift chart shows he was on the ice in the OT goal.  It was probably that FB group MN Hockey Fan HQ that mostly has over the top sensationalized feeds at best, and complete inaccurate statements beyond that.  

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    Willy the poor boy
    4 hours ago, Scalptrash said:

    Just like death and taxes, Ek is injured in the playoffs again. Great player, but too injury prone to be dependable when needed most. The same could be said for Kaprizov, who I believe, is still not 100%. They are both very delicate.

    He's really not injury prone. His injuries stem from blocking shots, and he's good at it.

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    Enforceror
    32 minutes ago, Willy the poor boy said:

    He's really not injury prone. His injuries stem from blocking shots, and he's good at it.

    Not to mention HOW he plays. If he approached the game like Mojo, he would probably get hurt a lot less. 

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