Kevin Francis: Wild post 5-4 OT win over Ottawa! Sens need to target Fiala this summer!!

Uhhh... he's not a UFA at the end of the year? He is an RFA, he can't become a UFA until summer of 2023?

Uhhh... he's not a UFA at the end of the year? He is an RFA, he can't become a UFA until summer of 2023?
- Antilles

My bad, was looking at it, Foligno below him UFA! Regardless, I would make a pitch for him!!!

In watching the Wild tonight and the young D core in SJ tonight due to covid issues(Karlsson/Vlasic/Middleton out on D), speed and skill on the blueline helps that transition so much! Inserting Brannstrom can't hurt when Josh Brown looks like he's skating in sand!

Hearing DJ have so much faith in his 4th line in taking defensive draws says a lot about Tierney/Paul/Norris in the faceoff circle.

Nobody in our Ottawa media asks DJ Smith why Gambrell came out of the line-up in his postgame press conference......incredible!

In watching the Wild tonight and the young D core in SJ tonight due to covid issues(Karlsson/Vlasic/Middleton out on D), speed and skill on the blueline helps that transition so much! Inserting Brannstrom can't hurt when Josh Brown looks like he's skating in sand!
- Kevin Francis

I was hoping to get a look at Brannstrom tonight too. The Wild have kept Addison down in Iowa because he has had some trouble defending in his own end but he looks improved in this 2 game call up.

I was hoping to get a look at Brannstrom tonight too. The Wild have kept Addison down in Iowa because he has had some trouble defending in his own end but he looks improved in this 2 game call up.
- Minnyhock

I like the speed on your blueline, they add to the transition game so much. Your coach gets it, he has a puck moving dman on each pairing.

Because only a indirect negative point was mentioned in the blog: MDZ was pretty decent. Would like to see him over Brown for sure, Holden shouldn't be sacrificed.

boy oh boy the Sens are awful in their own end.....the ice in Minny was BAD. Bouncy puck from the get go....but that doesn't excuse them getting ripped apart by the Wild in their own end.

I'd blame the OT goal on Stu.....still DelZotto shouldn't even be getting a sniff at OT.

Gustavasson has earned the starting position for now. I dont mind seeing murray on the bench. It might be the best place for him for awhile. Let him get comfortable at ice level and watch the game.

42 shots against. It was liking watching a wild powerplay for long stretches at 5-5. But yep good for them to claw a point out of it.

“Wild” game last night. The powerplay, while looks decent, still needs refining. I don’t think I have seen Chabot or any player on the blueline take a point shot this season. Seems nitpicky, but seems the only game plan on the PP is trying to force the puck low and try a cross crease pass, which is effective but can get predictable. I wonder why this is happening. Change it up. Create some unpredictability even if your goal is to get to a set play.

Gus was good and got hung out to dry a lot during the game. The defence outside of Chabot and Zub is an embarrassment.

Nobody in our Ottawa media asks DJ Smith why Gambrell came out of the line-up in his postgame press conference......incredible!
- Kevin Francis

who cares about Gambrell coming out of the lineup.....the 4th line was good last night, no issues with sandford-shaw-watson at all

the issue with this team is, and will continue to be on the backend.

who cares about Gambrell coming out of the lineup.....the 4th line was good last night, no issues with sandford-shaw-watson at all

the issue with this team is, and will continue to be on the backend.
- sensarmy_11

...one of the issues.
We don't win a lot of face offs.

Gustavson looked amazing....so I look to the coach to probably send him to ECHL for some conditioning.

“Wild” game last night. The powerplay, while looks decent, still needs refining. I don’t think I have seen Chabot or any player on the blueline take a point shot this season. Seems nitpicky, but seems the only game plan on the PP is trying to force the puck low and try a cross crease pass, which is effective but can get predictable. I wonder why this is happening. Change it up. Create some unpredictability even if your goal is to get to a set play.

Gus was good and got hung out to dry a lot during the game. The defence outside of Chabot and Zub is an embarrassment.
- Gord_Wilson_2.0

stop sugar coating it......i don't think the D is as good as you're claiming here.....embarrassment is far too nice a word to describe that tire fire.

i said it on twitter last night, i'd honestly rather have Cowen and Ceci back as opposed to putting Zaitsev and Brown out there every game

Brown, Mete, Zaitsev all continue to drag us down. It was unbelievable to see Brown shovel the puck from the corner to the front of the net in the 3rd. Jimmy Stu got got trying to do a little too much, but he had a solid all around game apart from that. Not a fan of him and Tkachuk being out there together in OT, I think that they both need to play with someone a bit more defensive minded to insulate them. Be nice to get Pinto back, so we have another quicker center.

stop sugar coating it......i don't think the D is as good as you're claiming here.....embarrassment is far too nice a word to describe that tire fire.

i said it on twitter last night, i'd honestly rather have Cowen and Ceci back as opposed to putting Zaitsev and Brown out there every game
- sensarmy_11

LOL even Phaneuf

...one of the issues.
We don't win a lot of face offs.

Gustavson looked amazing....so I look to the coach to probably send him to ECHL for some conditioning.
- Octavarium

faceoffs are an issue sure......but they're like number 8 on the list of top 10 issues.

most of the centers are around the 46% mark......which is clearly not good, but nor is it costing us games.

the miscues and complete lack of defensive zone awareness by our bottom 4 D are DIRECTLY leading to the team losing games.

Brown, Mete, Zaitsev all continue to drag us down. It was unbelievable to see Brown shovel the puck from the corner to the front of the net in the 3rd. Jimmy Stu got got trying to do a little too much, but he had a solid all around game apart from that. Not a fan of him and Tkachuk being out there together in OT, I think that they both need to play with someone a bit more defensive minded to insulate them. Be nice to get Pinto back, so we have another quicker center.
- GoSensGo71

Yes, Pinto would make a difference. Tierney has been decent and looks in a better game shape than last year.

We need to be patient watching Stuetzle figure out how his game can evolve. He will improve on his finishing soon enough. I believe he may have an even bigger game than Hossa. He will grow into it soon enough.

faceoffs are an issue sure......but they're like number 8 on the list of top 10 issues.

most of the centers are around the 46% mark......which is clearly not good, but nor is it costing us games.

the miscues and complete lack of defensive zone awareness by our bottom 4 D are DIRECTLY leading to the team losing games.
- sensarmy_11

Not an easy thing to solve on a very young team.

"THe Sens went back to the 2D logo because they only have 2D".

Stuzle can't buy a break right now. He's still noticable every time he's on the ice, and you have to think it will come soon.

Sucks to lose last night, but Wild were the better team, especially in the third. Wierd that the second period was the Sens best period last night.

Not an easy thing to solve on a very young team.
- spatso

the young guys aren't the problem......the "character vets who are tough to play against" that numb nuts keeps bringing in every off season are what continue to drag this team down.....year after year after year.

the young guys aren't the problem......the "character vets who are tough to play against" that numb nuts keeps bringing in every off season are what continue to drag this team down.....year after year after year.
- sensarmy_11

Maybe it's a bit of both? The whole team got dominated last night at points.

And while I don't like the vets taking of space, you need someone to play on the team while the propsects develop.

Maybe it's a bit of both? The whole team got dominated last night at points.

And while I don't like the vets taking of space, you need someone to play on the team while the propsects develop.
- david22

the whole team got dominated at points.....

the old character guys got dominated every time they stepped on the ice.....

that's the difference