Tony Dean: MNWild On the Eve of a Complete Meltdown Wild to Face Bruins MNWild On the Eve of a Complete Meltdown Wild to Face Bruins


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Brunette is cat quick, thus the nickname Kitty while he was in Colorado

Hopefully everyone has already forgotten about last night's debacle in NY, because they are going to have to bring their A game tonight against Boston.
It would be nice to see Backstrom step up and show this team that he still wants to be a starter in this league because he hasn't shown much of that mentality in quite a while.

I thought the Moore hit was just plain dumb at first, but watching the reverse angle in that clip T posted, you see Haula's head snap back before the rest of his body takes any impact. Clear blow to the head from a repeat offender. The league needs to do more to end senseless hits like this... and yes, I realize the Wild have one of the bigger culprits on its roster.

Isn't "eve" the day before, or do you just not like your chances against the Bruins?

No Haula, no Brodin (possibly for an extended stretch) and Yeo now decides to juggle lines... but just the bottom 3

So with Vanek and Koivu being split up, this leaves him with Brodziak. Possibly Coyle, if they shuffle him back to center?

No Haula, no Brodin (possibly for an extended stretch) and Yeo now decides to juggle lines... but just the bottom 3

So with Vanek and Koivu being split up, this leaves him with Brodziak. Possibly Coyle, if they shuffle him back to center?
- SotaPopinski

Un-(frank)ing-believable.

Hopefully everyone has already forgotten about last night's debacle in NY, because they are going to have to bring their A game tonight against Boston.
It would be nice to see Backstrom step up and show this team that he still wants to be a starter in this league because he hasn't shown much of that mentality in quite a while.

I thought the Moore hit was just plain dumb at first, but watching the reverse angle in that clip T posted, you see Haula's head snap back before the rest of his body takes any impact. Clear blow to the head from a repeat offender. The league needs to do more to end senseless hits like this... and yes, I realize the Wild have one of the bigger culprits on its roster.
- SotaPopinski

No argument there on the Moore hit, and hopefully 5-10 game suspension. I actually thought it was awful live.

Whoa, that was a really bad hit by Moore. I think a pretty serious suspension is coming for him.

No argument there on the Moore hit, and hopefully 5-10 game suspension. I actually thought it was awful live.
- mdw7413

Yep, looks like league might get this right for once. Kreider was punished enough, even though Brodin may be out for awhile.

Whoa, that was a really bad hit by Moore. I think a pretty serious suspension is coming for him.
- manchester33

Yep, looks like league might get this right for once. Kreider was punished enough, even though Brodin may be out for awhile.
- SotaPopinski

Yeah that sucks for Brodin. I thought he came back during the game?

I was in the minority on our board who thought Kreider should at the least get 1. Guys have to learn if you see the numbers 5 ft from the boards wrap the defenseman up dont go for the hit. Kreider was dumb, Moore was intent.

Yeah that sucks for Brodin. I thought he came back during the game?

I was in the minority on our board who thought Kreider should at the least get 1. Guys have to learn if you see the numbers 5 ft from the boards wrap the defenseman up dont go for the hit. Kreider was dumb, Moore was intent.
- mdw7413

He did return and didn't seem to be in any sort of noticeable discomfort, so its a little surprising to hear. He put himself in a vulnerable position, figuring to take the open ice hit rather than be plastered against the board/glass....didn't turn out too well for him.

He did return and didn't seem to be in any sort of noticeable discomfort, so its a little surprising to hear. He put himself in a vulnerable position, figuring to take the open ice hit rather than be plastered against the board/glass....didn't turn out too well for him.
- SotaPopinski

Picked the wrong guy. Maybe Zucc next time.

Isn't "eve" the day before, or do you just not like your chances against the Bruins?
- CubanBuffet

Haha Nice Catch I was going many different direction this afternoon! I amended the headline.

Well I guess the Bruins have figured out how to score on the Wild, redirect redirect redirect. Passing lanes are wide effing open in front of the crease. Wild are being majorly exposed on this East coast tour for being soft and it's painful to watch.

Be nice if Cooke would at least check someone. I get his apprehension but he needs to be a little more physical...

You guys have one weird team. Going to be a very interesting season for you Minny fans.

You guys have one weird team. Going to be a very interesting season for you Minny fans.
- manchester33

No doubt.

Be nice if Cooke would at least check someone. I get his apprehension but he needs to be a little more physical...
- MnGump

Agreed. He's playing extremely cautious which kind of makes him ineffective. Not liking how soft this team is, but winning games is all that counts.

You guys have one weird team. Going to be a very interesting season for you Minny fans.
- manchester33

That's an interesting way of putting it, but I know what you mean. There is still much this team has to figure out before it is consistently playing up to its potential.

What are your guys' thoughts on Dumba? He's been making me nervous the past couple of games. Just doesn't look comfortable defending.

What are your guys' thoughts on Dumba? He's been making me nervous the past couple of games. Just doesn't look comfortable defending.
- Chinaski

I came out and praised his game after the TB whoopin' yet ever since he has been a downright liability out there for the most part. I think he had a total of 2 shifts in the 3rd period against NY, and not much more last night. If Yeo can't trust a guy to help you close out a game, then he needs to send him down to Iowa where he can get a boatload of minutes and hopefully improve his mechanics.
I think it's just a matter of getting Folin and Ballard healthy before the decision is made.

I came out and praised his game after the TB whoopin' yet ever since he has been a downright liability out there for the most part. I think he had a total of 2 shifts in the 3rd period against NY, and not much more last night. If Yeo can't trust a guy to help you close out a game, then he needs to send him down to Iowa where he can get a boatload of minutes and hopefully improve his mechanics.
I think it's just a matter of getting Folin and Ballard healthy before the decision is made.
- SotaPopinski

Yeah, I don't disagree. I do think he was out there late in last night's game when the Bruins almost scored with that huge scrum at the net. I have no idea why Yeo had him out there that late in a one goal game.

I think Folin and Prosser would be a good third pairing.

I have to agree with Tony as well - if Dumba's going to be here, he needs to be on the power play. Otherwise it seems that they are wasting his development a bit. I don't think a little seasoning in Iowa is going to be a bad thing for him.

And one other thing that Tony mentions in this blog that's jumped out to me recently - Suter on the power play. Can they give someone else a chance? His shot from the point doesn't seem to be getting through and they're not really forcing the penalty killers to move that much with the pass from the point to the half-wall and then just a Suter flip to the net - it just seems pretty impotent. That move isn't creating any shooting lanes and his shots aren't getting through to the net. With all the skill guys they have I'd expect to see them come up with a more creative power play that emphasizes more movement.

Yeah, I don't disagree. I do think he was out there late in last night's game when the Bruins almost scored with that huge scrum at the net. I have no idea why Yeo had him out there that late in a one goal game.

I think Folin and Prosser would be a good third pairing.

I have to agree with Tony as well - if Dumba's going to be here, he needs to be on the power play. Otherwise it seems that they are wasting his development a bit. I don't think a little seasoning in Iowa is going to be a bad thing for him.

And one other thing that Tony mentions in this blog that's jumped out to me recently - Suter on the power play. Can they give someone else a chance? His shot from the point doesn't seem to be getting through and they're not really forcing the penalty killers to move that much with the pass from the point to the half-wall and then just a Suter flip to the net - it just seems pretty impotent. That move isn't creating any shooting lanes and his shots aren't getting through to the net. With all the skill guys they have I'd expect to see them come up with a more creative power play that emphasizes more movement.
- Chinaski

Agreed, but do you really think Yeo would ever move Suter off that PP unit? Unless he is injured, he is there to stay.
Koivu would likely still be on the top line had he never gotten hurt.

Agreed, but do you really think Yeo would ever move Suter off that PP unit? Unless he is injured, he is there to stay.
- SotaPopinski

No. Probably not unless things went really south and they needed a big shakeup. But he has so many options that have promise, it's a shame his tinkering will be limited to switching one guy.

I was momentarily excited when I saw Koivu with Niederreiter and Coyle on the 2nd unit last night for a short stretch. I thought if they put together some chances Yeo might try them 5-on-5. But on the PP it's unlikely they will have a chance to display that wall play and cycling that I think would make them a more effective 5-on-5 line.