2014-2015 General Wild Discussion Thread IV

[Jarick]

Wild were 3rd in 5v5 save percentage and 25th in 5v5 scoring last year. They absolutely got good goaltending, which got them through a lot of lean times.

This year has been the opposite...dead last in 5v5 save percentage and 8th in 5v5 scoring. Terrible goaltending while the team has actually been scoring.

Obviously I'm not a big Yeo guy, but I feel like he handled the goaltending situation just fine, outside of not pulling Kuemper quicker when he let in a couple bad goals early in the first.

 

[Jarick]

So with Cooke out for the season and Fontaine on IR...

Zucker - Koivu - Pominville
Parise - Granlund - Vanek
Nino - Coyle - Schroeder
Haula - Brodziak - Carter

I actually don't mind these lines. Top two lines have been looking decent (not amazing), and Nino/Coyle have perked up the last few games. Schroeder adds speed and skill there. Fourth line (or what should be the fourth line) is what it is, and Haula isn't any worse than Cooke at this stage of the game.

 

[Al Lagoon]

Today's source of optimism:

On January 28 the Wild were 12 points back of the Jets with 2 games in hand.

Today they are 8 points back with 3 games in hand.

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

Last time Chicago comes to town this season and no GDT? Come on, man

 

[BurnsyMN]

Today's source of optimism:

On January 28 the Wild were 12 points back of the Jets with 2 games in hand.

Today they are 8 points back with 3 games in hand.

At one point we were 14 points behind Winnipeg. I'm optimistic but the Wild need to take care of this homestand this week.

Today's scenarios should bring some optimism as well.
Colorado @ Dallas- Doesn't matter who wins, needs to be in regulation.
Winnipeg @ Vancouver- Canucks and Wild win= 6 points back of Jets, 3 games in hand.
LA @ Washington- Capitols victory and Wild victory leapfrogs us over LA with the ROW tiebreaker.

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

I get the feeling this team will just take-off if we can win tonight. Huge confidence booster (even more-so) if we can take down one of the league's elite teams.
I haven't been this excited about a game since the opener against the Av's.
Go Wild!

 

[Wasted Talent]

Another source of optimism: Our odds of making playoffs were as low last year at one point as they were earlier this January, even if it happened a bit earlier than this year.

 

[Avder]

We've got a much steeper hill to climb this year.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

Last year we just had to over take the Coyotes to get into the playoffs. This year we have to over take Colorado, LA, Dallas and Vancouver or Calgary.

 

[Uberdachen]

We've got a much steeper hill to climb this year.

Once we cross the UnJanny Valley the team starts to look lifelike.

 

[Bullrun]

Dont stop the party...we're all in!

 

[Gaps]

We've got a much steeper hill to climb this year.

And less time too. Theoretically it's still possible, but in practice? Unlikely at best.

 

[llamapalooza]

Next three games are against Colorado, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. One way or another, this stretch is gonna be humongous big for the season.

 

[MNNumbers]

Right now, given who has played how many games, Wild, Dallas,Colorado,LA are all tied.

Winnipeg and Calgary are 4 pts ahead when factoring in games played. Winnipeg is in a tough stretch.

Very possible....

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

We have a busy schedule coming up... After Saturday, we play literally every other day for the month of February with a back-back in there. Also, we have 4 back-back's in the month of March alone...

 

[Sharppi]

Lets take this winstreak to ridiculous proportions. Lets sayy... 14 win streak.

 

[nickschultzfan]

Wow, I knew we were generally out-shooting teams, but I had no idea that were are #1 in shots against, #4 in shots for, and #3 on shot differential.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/team/_/stat/scoring/sort/avgShots

Ok, we should be scoring a lot more goals and winning a lot more games.

 

[DANOZ28]

the last 2 games the wild have looked like the team i expected them to be at the start of the season, not sure why it took a meltdown to jumpstart the boys??? when we play fast we usually win. lets rev up this party! a newer song by godsmack 1000 horsepower! new team song.http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q...&mid=955BC5E5A1D77DECEA2E955BC5E5A1D77DECEA2E

 

[gphr513]

not sure why it took a meltdown to jumpstart the boys???

You keep saying that; I think it's pretty clear that goaltending was the issue. Not a coincidence that the meltdown ended right when we got a new goalie.

 

[AKL]

Wow, I knew we were generally out-shooting teams, but I had no idea that were are #1 in shots against, #4 in shots for, and #3 on shot differential.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/statistics/team/_/stat/scoring/sort/avgShots

Ok, we should be scoring a lot more goals and winning a lot more games.

Yes, we should.

 

[DANOZ28]

it shouldnt take a new goalie to make players skate fast, or a coach swearing like a sailor. on paper this should be a decent team even with poor goaltending. the most frustrating part is it keeps happening year after year.

 

[Engebretson]

That "meltdown" happened on January 7th after the Wild had lost 8 of the last 10 games. We proceeded to lose the next four games in regulation even after the "meltdown". Dubnyk was acquired on January 14th, and the Wild have gone 6-1-1 since.

So yeah, pretty sure the Dubnyk trade is what changed everything. The "meltdown" may not have had any effect at all.

 

[Minny Lakes]

Russo is hosting KFAN today from 9 to 12, also tomorrow 9-noon. Pretty nice listening to hockey talk.

 

[Jarick]

5v5 Stats

Before Dubnyk:

SF60 = 30.9 (6)
SA60 = 27.4 (8)
CF% = 52.5 (7)
Sh% = 7.7 (13)
Sv% = 89.5 (30)

After Dubnyk:

SF60 = 30.8 (14)
SA60 = 25.3 (4)
CF% = 52.3 (16)
Sh% = 8.8 (10)
Sv% = 93.0 (10)

Shots for and possession are essentially flat. Defense is a bit stingier giving up about 2 fewer shots against per game. Shooting % is up slightly. But obviously the biggest driver is Save %, up from worst in the league to above-average.

It would be interesting to be able to project the net impact on expected wins of those stats. I could do that if I had a lot more time and resources.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Next three games are against Colorado, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. One way or another, this stretch is gonna be humongous big for the season.

I fear that Minnesota is going to be a few games out, so Fletcher doesn't make any moves at the deadline. Guys like Brodziak, Dubnyk and Carter walk without any compensation, we end up with the 13th overall pick, pick another 'safe' guy that we develop into a two-way player and then rinse and repeat.