WildHBcommunity: Yeo Knows Best Shakes Up Lines Callups Gophers
When Things Fall Apart Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo Begins to Tinker
I think Minnesota Wild fans are having flashbacks right now to last December watching a team that looks overwhelmed and uninterested for long stretches during their current 4 game losing streak. Beyond a lack of scoring this team has abandoned their work ethic and intensity on the forecheck. The skating for the Wild has not been consistent and their opponents have taken advantage especially giving games away in Ottawa and New Jersey which in looking at it previous to the road trip should have been a must win and a bounce back opportunity.
I have listened to people champion the idea that Zach Parise being out of the lineup is creating a void in attitude and effort. I certainly will say that Parise is among the hardest working ultra competitive each shift each game superstar in the sport in my opinion. I am not sure I subscribe to the idea that Parise not being in the lineup can help explain how dead on their feet this team has played. Even previous to leaving the lineup in the third period of that Pittsburgh game, Parise was struggling to get much accomplished especially on the power play.
All that said I have been really feeling that Yeo has been so stuck on the Parise, Mikael Granlund, and Jason Pominville line. I will be the first to admit that they three have tremendous chemistry together and enjoyed great possession statistics but with all of the Top 6 capable forwards on this team NOW its shame they did not shake it up sooner. I would have loved to see Thomas Vanek and Pominville together sooner. I have always wanted to see Parise and Nino Niederreiter on a line together. I even think Jason Zucker with Parise would have opponents in their own heads while handling the puck.
What we are seeing now is that Vanek specifically needs to play with players that mask him in the defensive zone and speed/puck carry wise. I think what we see from Koivu is that his offensive role and approach must be addressed by Yeo. Koivu is no longer a primary puck distributor any more and he needs to get in the paint to use his size and strength.
Here is the new look Yeo Lines for tonight against the Buffalo Sabres at the Excel Energy Center:
Great News Jared Spurgeon is Back Tonight Terrible News Jonas Brodin and Marco Scandella Out?
So anyone that read my piece from yesterday knows that I believed missing Jared Spurgeon was the most detrimental factor for the Wild in a failed road trip. I love Parise but the forward depth can mask his absence and to be truthful this team has been ATROCIOUS on the power play even with Captain America in the lineup. Getting Spurgeon back tonight is a huge boost because of how much he contributes in both ends of the ice.
The terrible news is obviously Jonas Brodin had been battling through an injury or two while playing the last 5 games and it looks like tonight he will be unavailable to the Wild. Brodin has been nursing a hand injury that has severely limited his ability to contribute much of anything in the offensive zone. Brodin was targeted for physical play by the Rangers and Bruins which has been a common theme of teams looking to breakdown the strong possession game of the Wild.
In losing Marco Scandella with an undisclosed ailment it really dampens the return of Spurgeon. Scandella really looked to be pressing to elevate his play with his defensive partner out of the lineup. Scandella was definitely a mixed bag without Spurgeon, he took some bad penalties but he also was playing end to end. Scandella is definitely more talented and capable of playing in both ends then I believe Wild fans realize. Scandella was an anchor last year on the 2nd pair and his minutes to begin this season reflected how well he was playing early and the trust Yeo has in him.
UPDATE
What to Look for Tonight Versus the Buffalo Sabres
New look Yeo lines better be out there looking to create scoring chances and offense because this would be a huge statement game to get ran out of the rink by the TANKING Sabres. The new look lines being unleashed tonight by Yeo appear to be an acknowledgement of how deep in the hole this team is currently. Yeo is moving Finnish Jesus off the top line and matching him up with two big bodies that need a to jump start their game in Knightrider and Coyle. Yeo is keeping Koivu with Zucker which has been very complimentary and he is adding a shooter with them in Pominville.
The Bottom Six for Yeo tonight is going to a feature an ALL Gophers line centered by Erik Haula with Thomas Vanek and Jordan Schroeder which I am fascinated by because of the speed and scoring potential. Adding Schroeder to Vanek is certainly an opportunity to spark some secondary scoring. Haula and Schroeder need to use their speed and gritty play to eliminate the Sabres puck possession and get it going the other direction tonight. Along with calling up Schroeder, coming up the I-35 expressway is STU BICKEL! I bag on Bickel but he is more than willing to play an aggressive brand of hockey and stand up for his team. I am not sure Bickel gets into the lineup but I would almost rather see him than Ballard to be honest.
The fourth line is certainly capable of chipping in some scoring as well, with Kyle Brodziak and Ryan Carter together both of those guys can create turnovers and bang bodies around. I have said since the beginning of the season I am very appreciative of the versatile Justin Fontaine provides and have argued that his ability to compete on the 4th line creates a mismatch for opponents because he is far most skilled than most players playing on an NHL 4th line.
Just a side bar I love me some Mathew Dumba and Christian Folin so I am rooting for them to bounce back tonight after spending time in the press box in New Jersey. Dumba seems to have end less opportunities to elevate his play and show the dynamic portions of his game at the NHL level. Tonight needs to be a showcase of how Dumba can activate into the offensive zone and create scoring and opportunities even strength and short handed.
The genius of how the Wild was winning games early this season was creating mismatches and using their effort to force teams to create errors in their own end that led to sustained offensive zone possession and scoring from unlikely sources. Tonight I really hope this Yeo led team gets back to 200 foot hockey and blanketing forecheck and backcheck. Maybe a powerplay goal or two would lift some spirits as well!
Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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