Minnesota Wild Thread

[Mr. Brooks]

This playoff format sucks.

The Blackhawks are the best team in the conf and the wild are the 2nd best. It's all sorts of stupid that they would end up playing in the 2nd round.

 

Bettman is a freaking clown and needs to stop screwing up the game. Go back to the 1-8 seeding and be done with it.

I don't think the Wild will be the 2nd best team in the west by seasons end.

The Ducks are just 1 point back, the Sharks and Oilers just 3 back.

Since we are just happy with moral victories now, instead of actual wins, I think all 3 of those teams will pass us for sure, with Calgary likely passing us too.

We'll have the 5th or 6th most points in the West at seasons end, which means this odd system will actually benefit us, by having home ice in round one.

[stringer bell]

While the Wild have been sucking for a while, I doubt they fall any farther. Their schedule the rest of the way is soft, soft, soft. They have two games with Colorado and one with LA, which will almost certainly be eliminated by the time they play that game. Of course, I thought Vancouver and Detroit would be wins for the Wild, as well.

[David HK]

OK, we all know the annual swoon has hit, and hit hard, and at nearly the worst possible time.  Bye-bye President's Trophy.  Bye-bye home ice through the Western Conf playoffs.  And the Ducks, Oilers and Sharks only 1-3 points behind...  

In my capacity as mind-reader, in addition to a myriad of other wasted talents- I channeled the inner, and sometimes outer thoughts of the crew in this recent photo:

 

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

I don't think we'll fall to 5th or 6th, we might, but many of the Western playoff teams are sucking right now.  The Sharks might actually be playing worse.

[DaveW]

Good Rocketpig, that was a much needed win. Feels good to see them play good again, hopefully this builds some momentum the rest of the season.

I think this is the end of the Kuemper era in Minnesota, Stalock looked solid.

Erikkson Ek is an exciting and dynamic player to watch. Is he allowed to be on our playoff roster? Even if he loses a year of his ELC I think he NEEDS to be added, as the Wild really need to make a run this year.

[Twins33]

Erikkson Ek is an exciting and dynamic player to watch. Is he allowed to be on our playoff roster? Even if he loses a year of his ELC I think he NEEDS to be added, as the Wild really need to make a run this year.

He can play in the playoffs. I don't know the actual rule, but Russo who writes for the startribune said he can in a blog or article.

 

And he's already burned a year on his ELC by playing tonight.

[DaveW]

 

He can play in the playoffs. I don't know the actual rule, but Russo who writes for the startribune said he can in a blog or article.

And he's already burned a year on his ELC by playing tonight.

Ah ok, good to know.

Desperate times, etc etc

Go Wild!

[TheLeviathan]

I like Haula-Ek-White, that could be a fun and effective fourth line.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Two in a row for stalock. Something the matter with Doobie or just much needed rest?

[TheLeviathan]

 

Two in a row for stalock. Something the matter with Doobie or just much needed rest?

 

Rest.

[stringer bell]

Wild look like they will finish second best in the West, meaning they would have home ice if they get by Chicago in the second round. They have played (and finish the season against) a lot of bad, disinterested teams down the stretch but wins are wins.

[Mr. Brooks]

Wild look like they will finish second best in the West, meaning they would have home ice if they get by Chicago in the second round. They have played (and finish the season against) a lot of bad, disinterested teams down the stretch but wins are wins.

Not necessarily. The other division winner would have home ice advantage over us regardless of record, I believe.

[stringer bell]

Acc

 

Not necessarily. The other division winner would have home ice advantage over us regardless of record, I belie

 

Not necessarily. The other division winner would have home ice advantage over us regardless of record, I believe.

According to nhl.com, the team with the best record gets home ice for Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.

 

[Vanimal46]

They really need to change up the playoff format once the CBA is up. This is silly that the best 2 teams in the West face off in the 2nd round.

[twinsnorth49]

They really need to change up the playoff format once the CBA is up. This is silly that the best 2 teams in the West face off in the 2nd round.

Lol, it will change eventually. The NHL has changed it's playoff format 26 times in it's history. That's about once every four years.

 

You're complaining about the 2 best teams in the West playing in the 2nd round? Try playing in the Met division, at least one of the top 5 teams in the league will be gone in the first round.

 

It's a crappy system from that standpoint but the NHL loves it's divisional rivalries.

[Rhino and Compass]

An unbalanaced schedule means that there is asymmetry to the opponents played, and one team's 106 points may be more easily attained than another's 98 (or whatever). To that end, it doesn't much matter to me that the two highest point totals in one conference may end up playing in the 2nd round. You still have to beat 'em, whether it's in the second round of the conference finals.

Also, selfishly, it staves off the late night west coast series for as long as possible. Some people have to work in the morning

[DaveW]

4 wins in a row and points in 6 of last 7 to end the season.

 

Not bad.

 

Also most wins and pts in franchise history.

 

Hopefully we can beat St Louis in 5 and gear up for Chi Town.

 

I don't see any way Nashville beats the Hawks.

[stringer bell]

 

4 wins in a row and points in 6 of last 7 to end the season.

Not bad.

Also most wins and pts in franchise history.

Hopefully we can beat St Louis in 5 and gear up for Chi Town.

I don't see any way Nashville beats the Hawks.

Yes that is correct, but the schedule at the end was a big gift for the local team. Only one of the teams they beat made the playoffs and none of the non-playoff teams was in contention. The Wild had a fine regular season and they probably should have scored more points, by just about every metric. I'll need to be convinced by the Wild dominating the Blues in the first round.

[TheLeviathan]

I wouldn't expect domination in the NHL playoffs.  That's not common.

[Vanimal46]

Wild win the 1st round in 6 games..... Book it. 

[nicksaviking]

Man our teams are just snakebit. Wild are dominating but it's clear nothing will get through.

[nicksaviking]

See what I did there, a bit of the old reverse psychology!

[nicksaviking]

Man our teams are just snakebit. Wild are dominating but it's clear nothing will get through.

[nicksaviking]

Damn, I guess it only works once.

[DaveW]

Heartbreaking loss

[TheLeviathan]

Yeah, we thoroughly outplayed them.  That's a tough one.

[DaveW]

 

Yeah, we thoroughly outplayed them.  That's a tough one.

Big time. 

The good news is it's just one game, hopefully the Wild come out strong tonight.

Allen stood on his head, no doubt, but a LOT of puck luck was involved as well.

Win tonight and it's all good.

[Pardon My Dinger]

Totally forgot how frequently Mike Yeo blinks.

[Pardon My Dinger]

This team's net presence is a complete joke. Letting Allen make 50 easy saves a night is inexcusable. Playoff hockey 101: blow that mother up, take the penalty, let stewie fight. He is too comfortable.

[Mr. Brooks]

Both Blues goals were as soft as butter.

Just never know which Dubnyk is going to show up.