Tony Dean: MNWild: Flyers Drop in for Monday Night Matchup

Getting a little tired of the Wild's play the last few games, think I am going to skip this one...

Getting a little tired of the Wild's play the last few games, think I am going to skip this one...
- Tweaterben

Great opening period for a change. Though a score or 2 seems to be too much to ask for. This team still has to work far too hard to score.

Amazing how this team can make even the most mediocre of goaltenders look all-stars!

Great opening period for a change. Though a score or 2 seems to be too much to ask for. This team still has to work far too hard to score.
- SotaPopinski

Said something very similar to a buddy of mine the other night... This team works damn hard to lose a game. Just seems like the harder they work, the more futile their efforts are rendered...

Great 1st, snoozer of a 2nd, and 2 early goals to start the 3rd... followed by about 15 minutes of YeoPuck to close out the game. Much needed win tonight. Harding seems to be back on track after a little skid.
Philly is seriously lacking some offense

Great 1st, snoozer of a 2nd, and 2 early goals to start the 3rd... followed by about 15 minutes of YeoPuck to close out the game. Much needed win tonight. Harding seems to be back on track after a little skid.
Philly is seriously lacking some offense
- SotaPopinski

Seem like a Bunch of cry babies. Nice dive by Hartnell too on the Phantom trip from Koivu...

Bunch of cry babies. Nice dive by Hartnell too on the Phantom trip from Koivu...
- MnGump

When was that? I was bored and got caught up on Homeland during parts of the game
Came into tonight's game excited to watch Philly, but holy poop are they inept on offense. Can't imagine having to watch that snoozefest all season long

When was that? I was bored and got caught up on Homeland during parts of the game
Came into tonight's game excited to watch Philly, but holy poop are they inept on offense. Can't imagine having to watch that snoozefest all season long
- SotaPopinski

It was about 6 min left in the game. But yeah, Philly didn't seem to have much heart in the contest.

It was about 6 min left in the game. But yeah, Philly didn't seem to have much heart in the contest.
- MnGump

I saw a bunch of Twitter mentions of Simmonds tipping over in a light breeze as well.

Yes, I know both Pominville and Coyle scored the goals last night, but does anyone else think playing Pominville over Coyle on that top line is a mistake? Pominville just isn't well equipped to play that grinding wall possession game that seems to suit Koivu and Parise. Coyle is much better suited to that. So far, it looks to me like Haula could fill that second line center spot for the short-term instead of Coyle. He could bring that speed and play-making ability that seems to leverage Pominville's strengths more.

Yes, I know both Pominville and Coyle scored the goals last night, but does anyone else think playing Pominville over Coyle on that top line is a mistake? Pominville just isn't well equipped to play that grinding wall possession game that seems to suit Koivu and Parise. Coyle is much better suited to that. So far, it looks to me like Haula could fill that second line center spot for the short-term instead of Coyle. He could bring that speed and play-making ability that seems to leverage Pominville's strengths more.
- Chinaski

Pominville was working great with Niederter (sp) on the second line. Parise Koivu and Coyle seemed to have some chemistry. Why switch them up Yeo? I know Granlund is hurt but why is heatly back up on 2nd when he was playing his best hockey in 2 years on the 3rd and 4th lines? I don't get it.

Pominville was working great with Niederter (sp) on the second line. Parise Koivu and Coyle seemed to have some chemistry. Why switch them up Yeo? I know Granlund is hurt but why is heatly back up on 2nd when he was playing his best hockey in 2 years on the 3rd and 4th lines? I don't get it.
- Mersch

Agreed.

Agreed.
- MnGump

Hey Gump, Did your buddy Ratgen quit writing his blog?

I saw a bunch of Twitter mentions of Simmonds tipping over in a light breeze as well.
- Tony Dean

Simmonds is such an overated player to begin with. He's a glorified grinder that has no business being a top 6 player on most teams. Problem is, Philly is not skilled enough to put him on the 3rd or 4th lines where he belongs...

Hey Gump, Did your buddy Ratgen quit writing his blog?
- Mersch

He's a very, very busy guy, don't you know?! He has very" big shoes" to fill outside of writing a pesky HB blog! He's currently transitioning his blog duties two once a month... then he'll be going once every other month during the season until he has successfully handed the baton over to Tony full time...

Playing devils advocate for a second though, all 5 of the Minny fans on HB probably could care less anyway.

He's a very, very busy guy, don't you know?! He has very" big shoes" to fill outside of writing a pesky HB blog! He's currently transitioning his blog duties two once a month... then he'll be going once every other month during the season until he has successfully handed the baton over to Tony full time...

Playing devils advocate for a second though, all 5 of the Minny fans on HB probably could care less anyway.
- MnGump

Haha do you have an inside source for this hypothesis?

Hopefully I have contributed since joining the HB team. I want to build our HockeyBuzz Wild community which I will continue you work harder to accomplish.

I am also always open to suggestion as I calls them as I sees them haha but I am open to being pointed in direction and such.

I also would like to start podcast participation and other avenues for WildHBcommunity as we should represent and build like other fanbases have here at HB!

Haha do you have an inside source for this hypothesis?

Hopefully I have contributed since joining the HB team. I want to build our HockeyBuzz Wild community which I will continue you work harder to accomplish.

I am also always open to suggestion as I calls them as I sees them haha but I am open to being pointed in direction and such.

I also would like to start podcast participation and other avenues for WildHBcommunity as we should represent and build like other fanbases have here at HB!
- Tony Dean

You've done a superb job so far Tony! I've kind of been on Brads poop since the week I joined HB about his lack of blogs and I've received many an excuse from him in the process. I can only assume he's transitioning to 1 blog a month being that he's had 1 about every 3 weeks lately. So he's almost there... I think he see's your presence here now as an even better opportunity to blog even less...

I also would like to see more fans frequent the Wild blogs and that is where my problem lies with Brads efforts, or lackthereof. Kind of hard to draw fans to a blog that doesn't exist.

As I said Tony, you've done a fine job so far, I was just assuming that with 2 bloggers (or 1 1/2) that we'd get more blogs rolling at one time creating more chance of luring more fans in as well as more daily or every day type banter blogs to keep people interested.

Either way I think you're definitely setting the pace as the Wild lead blogger... and don't get me wrong, I enjoy Ratgens blogs, just think he needs to put a little more time in to making them happen. But as he's reminded me a time or two, he's "no Russo" and he's a very busy and important individual that can't be bothered with pesky Wild blogs in between being a family man and all the many splendors that is Brad Ratgen.

You've done a superb job so far Tony! I've kind of been on Brads poop since the week I joined HB about his lack of blogs and I've received many an excuse from him in the process. I can only assume he's transitioning to 1 blog a month being that he's had 1 about every 3 weeks lately. So he's almost there...

I also would like to see more fans frequent the Wild blogs and that is where my problem lies with Brads efforts, or lackthereof. Kind of hard to draw fans to a blog that doesn't exist.

As I said Tony, you've done a fine job so far, I was just assuming that with 2 bloggers (or 1 1/2) that we'd get more blogs rolling at one time creating more chance of luring more fans in as well as more daily or every day type banter blogs to keep people interested.

Either way I think you're definitely setting the pace as the Wild lead blogger... and don't get me wrong, I enjoy Ratgens blogs, just think he needs to put a little more time in to making them happen. But as he's reminded me a time or two, he's "no Russo" and he's a very busy and important individual that can't be bothered with pesky Wild blogs in between being a family man and all the many splendors that is Brad Ratgen.
- MnGump

No company line or nicey nicey speak cause I dont do that, Brad has always been very good to me even before I landed the opportunity to share my take here at HB. Brad would share my stuff no matter who i wrote for. Brad definitely doesnt need me to take up for him haha but I can definitely relate to being crazy busy and I have only 1 kid hahaha.

I appreciate your kind words and I hope everyone that particpates here know how much I appreciate particpation and feedback. I will do better to draw more Wild fans to our community here!

Playing devils advocate for a second though, all 5 of the Minny fans on HB probably could care less anyway.
- MnGump

Oh c'mon, there are at least 8 of us... unless we can't count the bloggers

I posted on Wild's message boards for awhile before coming over here. Never seen so many a-holes gathered in one place before in my life. Surprised more haven't jumped ship. Everyone realizes Ek is mostly full of poop, but there are some great posters here... even Vancouver fans!

Oh c'mon, there are at least 8 of us... unless we can't count the bloggers

I posted on Wild's message boards for awhile before coming over here. Never seen so many a-holes gathered in one place before in my life. Surprised more haven't jumped ship. Everyone realizes Ek is mostly full of poop, but there are some great posters here... even Vancouver fans!
- SotaPopinski

Careful, that is the type of thing that will go to their heads.

Oh c'mon, there are at least 8 of us... unless we can't count the bloggers

I posted on Wild's message boards for awhile before coming over here. Never seen so many a-holes gathered in one place before in my life. Surprised more haven't jumped ship. Everyone realizes Ek is mostly full of poop, but there are some great posters here... even Vancouver fans!
- SotaPopinski

Yep, Wild blogs and even Russos rant comment section is like a mob of hysteria. DON'T YOU DARE saying anything derogatory about this beloved team! They'll cut your throat!!!! HB is truly one of the best NHL blog sites IMO. Lot of passionate fans but also people that are level headed enough to listen to reason as it pertains to their favorite team. A lot of A-holes too, but you're never going to get away from most of that. Just ask Brad!

Yep, Wild blogs and even Russos rant comment section is like a mob of hysteria. DON'T YOU DARE saying anything derogatory about this beloved team! They'll cut your throat!!!! HB is truly one of the best NHL blog sites IMO. Lot of passionate fans but also people that are level headed enough to listen to reason as it pertains to their favorite team. A lot of A-holes too, but you're never going to get away from most of that. Just ask Brad!
- MnGump

That's every single emoticon for me. Must be that time of the month! (sorry ladies)

That's every single emoticon for me. Must be that time of the month! (sorry ladies)
- Brad Ratgen