GDT: 10/24/24 - 7:00PM EDT - Minnesota vs Tampa Bay

[JTBF81]

While Cernak had his head up his ass on that play, Vasilevskiy needs to stop that shot from Eriksson Ek IMHO

All those close range chances were definitely tough save opportunities, but as I said, when you are supposed to have a top 3-5 goalie in the league (and the 1nd highest paid), you hope at least one of them might get saved.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

5 shots in the 3rd is pathetic effort at home when you are losing.

Reminiscent of 2022 Cup Final Game 6 where we were out of gas and the Avalanche had the clamps down

 

[T REX]

kuch with 1 sog?

team lacks identity

 

[Soul Assumption]

We looked like the more talented team and Wild looked like the better coached team.

Because THEY ARE the better coached team and it's not even close. People think Florida went from being a joke to a contender because of the Tkachuk trade but no he's only the 3rd best player on his team. The reason is Paul Maurice. It's been 3rd year and i still dont understand how it's not obvious to anyone that Сooper can be good with an all-star team, but this Tampa needs someone else.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Geekie is damn close to breaking out and going on a heater.

 

[JTBF81]

Despite the poor 3rd period, the blunders and no saves on all those goals aren't on Cooper. Guys missed coverage assignments on two of them at least. The offense disappeared in the 3rd after they had been more dynamic and aggressive in the 1st and 2nd. Minnesota defended very well and Fleury didn't face as many high danger chances. He made the saves he had to and had a much less sloppy defense in front of him. Oh well, hopefully they commit less of them next game and convert on a few more chances.

 

[JFleegs]

Geekie is damn close to breaking out and going on a heater.

That shot that hit the cross bar was a thing of beauty, pure talent. unfortunately just an inch too high.

 

[Rschmitz]

I don’t think we tested Fleury enough. Wild didn’t give us much controlled possession time

Wild played a defensive game, hard to run amok on a team committed to playing D at all costs.

Geekie is damn close to breaking out and going on a heater.

He's definitely one of our 6 best offensive forwards and I'm glad he's being utilized as such.

Having said that, lots of holes still. Part of the development process, but glad he's not spending time in AHL, He's earned his keep

 

[Stammertime91]

The Shearyless era starts out winless. Coincidence?

 

[Soul Assumption]

I wonder if there is another team in the league where bottom 6 scored just 1 goal in 7 games. and even this goal happened when Chaffee was on a shift with the second line

 

[Stammertime91]

I wonder if there is another team in the league where bottom 6 scored just 1 goal in 7 games. and even this goal happened when Chaffee was on a shift with the second line

I think expectations should be lowered for them, honestly. They are not good offensively. Especially the makeup of the bottom six.

Atkinson, Ace, Girgensons, Glendening, and Chaffee....

Ace and Chaffee are probably the biggest letdowns because they have potential to hit 10-15. Ace looks poor with the puck if he isn't twirling around the net on his edges. Glendening and Girgensons? Expecting offense there is by and large a waste of time, especially with both of them on the same line. Vanilla and more vanilla is still vanilla. Can't really fault Atkinson as we took a low risk/high reward chance with him, but this isn't really a surprise. We desperately need a legitimate middle six RW. Not a fractured back, 4'3" 30pt forward. A legitimate NHL middle six RW. We desperately lack that.

 

[Sky04]

McD and Cernak especially had a stinker but that's fine, they're not going to be perfect but there's no doubt they'll be reliable in crunch time. The structure of this team is the bigger issue and has been for awhile. The Wild don't look great on paper but they play well as a unit, Kaprizov is impressive as well probably the 2nd best Russian in the game and like Kucherov can make dangerous chances out of nothing.

 

[Stelio Kontos]

The Shearyless era starts out winless. Coincidence?

His spirit haunts us.. someone needs to burn some sage to cleanse the locker room of him..

 

[OffBy1]

I guess we can't win anymore without a 4 assist night from Cirelli? His one assist tonight was a beauty though. 7 games into the season and he's got three more than Kuch??

I'm wondering if one of the reasons Cooper moved Geekie up to the top line was to also try Guentzel on a different line, as he hasn't really gotten going yet in spite of his points. I agree with the other posts about not moving Geekie. This is the second time Cooper has messed with a functioning Cirelli line this year, and when Geekie was really starting to get some momentum.

Lilleberg, the lone member of the team with a +2 tonight. With he and Perbix both playing better the last couple games, looks like Raddysh might be sitting a while.

 

[bigdaddio]

Did the Wild have a single scoring chance on net that was saved? I don't think so. Vasy has to be better.

 

[FinnLightning26]

The team can't defend for shit. Can't even blame Vasy for this one. All three goals happened because they couldn't close down passing lanes or lost their check. Don't let the 18 shots by the Wild fool you. They just sat back when they got the lead. When they had to try, they scored three easy goals.

They looked at last years defensive structure and decided to not change any coaching staff. It's again an example of nepotism that plagues the whole league. The defensive coach is Cooper's buddy so he's got the job as long as Coop is here. There no other explanation why heads didn't roll for that shitshow last year and what's happening again this year.

What a f***ing joke.

 

[ccman68]

vasy made 0 saves this game that a league minimum goalie wouldn’t make. when you are getting paid the big pucks you have to make some good saves every now and then.

 

[LightningStrikes]

vasy made 0 saves this game that a league minimum goalie wouldn’t make. when you are getting paid the big pucks you have to make some good saves every now and then.

If he’s really getting paid in pucks (no matter their size) I’m not surprised though.

 

[Maelmoor]

We are at 57.1 right now, its not fantastic, but nor a disaster. Ahead of Leafs and Bruins, just slightly behind Panthers.

I reckon we will continue on this path, it will be a battle to secure a playoff place, that's the first milestone to reach. Still early days though, there's been good stuff so far, but also negatives, so let's see where we stand in a few weeks.