Dan Wallace: Blues Push Wild To The Brink

Blues fan here.

You sure you want Talbot for game 6? A cold goalie coming into a heated playoff series? 6 GAA against the Blues this season, and a terrible Sv Pct? Could change the course of the series, but who knows. Its a tough decision as a coach. Fleury can steal a game on his own too.

Every loss this series, the opposing team has pushed the pace and the team that was on the back foot found a way to win. Game 1, wild mostly dominated 5v5, Blues won. Game 2 - Wild won, blues looked the better team for a majority, same with game 3, mental mistakes for the Blues cost them. Blues definitely were shaken without Leddy/Bortz and playing with 5 d for 4 of the 6 periods in Game 2/3. Game 4, the wild had some good push but the Blues found a way to shut them down. Same with Game 5.

Blues lost Krug but gained Perunovich who's gotten comparisons to Makar. Getting Leddy and Bortz back for game 5 strengthened the Blues on the backend. They've been here before and look like they've taken over the series, but I honestly thought it was going the Wild's way after game 3.

These games have been a lot closer than the scoreboard indicates going both ways, should be a fun Game 6 and potentially Game 7. If the Wild can push it to a Game 7, it could go either way.

Cant play Talbot, you guys are stuck with Fleury.
"Hey guy, you know how we brought in this other dude for the end of this season/ playoffs. Well its not great we are 1 game away from elimination. Need you to go in there and get us a win and keep us alive. Ignore that fact you have lost 7 in a row vs them, giving up 32 goals during those game. You got this."

I think we stick w 7 dmen, staff is doing a really good job with matchups. The 4th line hasnt done much and I kind of like thomas and tarasenko double shifting. Also coming back home I bet they stick Schenn on Krill most of the night, which they seemed to be trying to do 2nd half of game 5.

Cant play Talbot, you guys are stuck with Fleury.
"Hey guy, you know how we brought in this other dude for the end of this season/ playoffs. Well its not great we are 1 game away from elimination. Need you to go in there and get us a win and keep us alive. Ignore that fact you have lost 7 in a row vs them, giving up 32 goals during those game. You got this."

I think we stick w 7 dmen, staff is doing a really good job with matchups. The 4th line hasnt done much and I kind of like thomas and tarasenko double shifting. Also coming back home I bet they stick Schenn on Krill most of the night, which they seemed to be trying to do 2nd half of game 5. -Gerk

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Couldnt have worded it any better!!!

The Wild will probably play Fleury. But Talbot is an option. Evason can be unpredictable. The change could give the team motivation. The team may think Talbot got shafted since Fleury wasn’t better after he was acquired. Fleury hasn’t been bad but Evason may go against conventional wisdom. He seems to push the right buttons.

Evason may make minor personnel adjustments along with the strategy adjustments. Maybe Bjugstad and/ or Kulikov come in. Even though the Wild have their backs to the wall, I don’t see any reason to panic. Win one game. These momentum shifts always occur.

Cant play Talbot, you guys are stuck with Fleury.
"Hey guy, you know how we brought in this other dude for the end of this season/ playoffs. Well its not great we are 1 game away from elimination. Need you to go in there and get us a win and keep us alive. Ignore that fact you have lost 7 in a row vs them, giving up 32 goals during those game. You got this."

I think we stick w 7 dmen, staff is doing a really good job with matchups. The 4th line hasnt done much and I kind of like thomas and tarasenko double shifting. Also coming back home I bet they stick Schenn on Krill most of the night, which they seemed to be trying to do 2nd half of game 5.
- Gerk

I agree. i was stunned they didn't go with 7 D in game 3. Joshua, Brown, etc. just aren't going to bring as much as even having Scott P available for PP quarterbacking much less injury and minutes insurance on the D.

The odds of a MAF pull in the right situation go up in Game 6 but I believe he is the starter.

Nope, it’s time to let Talbot face his demons. Flower has been pedestrian at best. Talbot is the reason the Wild are in the post season period. The Wild need to live or die with Talbot at this point.

I totally agree that Fleury has done nothing and Talbot is the guy that got them where they are. Playing Fleury over Talbot to start with can be a negative is not likely each players choice but throwing Cam in now could be huge for the Wild or at the same time devastating. One thing for sure Cam can not be too pleased with his treatment and he deserves better.

Nope, it’s time to let Talbot face his demons. Flower has been pedestrian at best. Talbot is the reason the Wild are in the post season period. The Wild need to live or die with Talbot at this point.
- MnGump

Agreed but I believe you will see Fleury. If I am coaching I risk it all and go with Cam.

Based on the morning skate, looks like Talbot is in net.

Looks like Kulikov in for Goligoski tonight. I would have liked Bjugstad instead of D Lo. Time for Dumba to show up. Go Wild!

Tough loss in such a pivotal game in this series