MNWild: 3 Keys to Victory and Live Twitter Feed Coyotes Vs Wild

The Minnesota Wild 15 - 6 - 4 (34 pts) return home tonight to host the Phoenix Coyotes 14 - 6 - 4 (32 pts) at the Excel Energy Center. Real quickly as I updated from my earlier post Zach Parise skated today initially in warm up gear then dressed and participated in practice with the team. Twitter was abuzz last night when the MNWild account tweeted that Parise was expected to miss 2-3 weeks. Then to have Parise on the ice today, I have to believe he is still a week or two away from returning but he clearly was sending a message to his team mates. Sure enough after Parise's skate with the team Keith Ballard and Torrey Mitchell were announced as returning to the lineup. Also Josh Harding skated this morning and will backup the starter Niklas Backstrom. As result Jason Zucker and Darcy Kuemper were assigned to the Iowa Wild who they will join for a game in Chicago.


Tweets by @AWKD



Wild's 3 Key to Victory

1. Tonight the Wild needs it's returning players to make an impact. Mikael Granlund is returning from an unspecified upper body injury tonight and will need to pick up where he left off being a catalyst for scoring on that second line. Torrey Mitchell needs to generate to buzz he is known for creating turnovers. Keith Ballard needs to create some nasty in the defensive end and return to his aggressive play pinching in on offense.

2. The defensive pairing can not be flat footed and out of position like what happened on both St. Louis goals the other night. Sure Backstrom gave up some juicy rebounds but if you watch the totality of the play too many Wild players were caught unaware and not moving there feet.

3, Our guy Dany Heatley gets elevated to top line this evening so I guess hsi ability to be productive and make good on the expanded important role in Parise's absence is going to be crucial for the Wild. All eyes on Heatley again tonight as he gets more ice time and hopefully is productive which has not been the case so far this season.

Individual Leaders
Phoenix Coyotes Minnesota Wild
Points: M. HANZAL (20),S. DOAN (19),R. VRBATA (19) Z. PARISE (22),M. KOIVU (21),J. POMINVILLE (17)
Goals: S. DOAN (11),M. RIBEIRO (7),M. HANZAL (7) J. POMINVILLE (13),Z. PARISE (11),J. FONTAINE (6)
Assists: K. YANDLE (16),R. VRBATA (13),M. HANZAL (13) M. KOIVU (16),R. SUTER (15),Z. PARISE (11)
PP Goals: S. DOAN (6),M. RIBEIRO (2),R. VRBATA (2) Z. PARISE (6),J. POMINVILLE (4),D. HEATLEY (3)
SH Goals: Z. PARISE (1)
GW Goals: O. EKMAN-LARSSON (3),S. DOAN (1),M. RIBEIRO (1) J. POMINVILLE (3),M. COOKE (2),M. KOIVU (2)
3+ Goals: R. VRBATA(1)
PIM: M. HANZAL (27),K. CHIPCHURA (25),A. VERMETTE (16) Z. KONOPKA (37),C. STONER (27),N. PROSSER (19)
Shots: R. VRBATA (80),S. DOAN (72),M. HANZAL (59) Z. PARISE (107),J. POMINVILLE (75),M. KOIVU (56)
+/-: Z. MICHALEK (+9),R. KLINKHAMMER (+9),O. EKMAN-LARSSON (+9) Z. PARISE (+7),M. SCANDELLA (+7),J. FONTAINE (+7)

Just My Take,

Tony Dean
@AWKD

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