WCQF: Wild vs. Stars Series Discussion

[Dr Jan Itor]

I hate to sound like such a negative Nancy but I've never been so unenthusiastic about making the playoffs in my life. I just don't like our team. I like certain players but the collective group as a whole just irritate me now.. The attitudes, the post-game comments (especially after the game 81 loss) the fact that every veteran is having a career worst year. It just feels like they couldn't care less about anything but themselves.. As much I want to see Minnesota win a cup I almost feel like this team deserves to be swept in the most embarrassing fashion possible. I can't believe I'm even typing this but between the on-ice product, the post game rhetoric, the lackadaisical "we only play when we feel like it" attitude.. This team has completely made me not like them. I feel like they don't deserve any reward what-so-ever because of what we've seen from them this season, and especially the last 5 games..

I think this only applies to Vanek and Pominville.

Koivu has had worse and was one of the 10 or 15 best centers for a good chunk of the season, Suter just set a career best in points and Parise's points-per-game, while the lowest in his time in Minnesota, would still put him over 60.

 

[Ajacied]

They'll win 1 game.

I keep going back to the fact the Wild have lead against them by 3 goals on a couple of occasions this year and then completely fell apart. Their saving grace is there is no 3-on-3 in the playoffs.

I just don't see them pulling this one off though. Stars are weak after their Top 6 and Top D pairing with questionable goaltending. The issue will come down exactly to what it always comes down to with the Wild in the playoffs: special teams

I'm not as confident in the Stars winning this matchup as my fellow Stars fans are. I actually think it will be 6/7 games long, with the winner still open. Just not confident in our goalie tandem.

That said, the Stars are one of the deepest teams in terms of forward depth. They scored more goals than any other team and boost a quality bottom six.

Either way, goodluck.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I think you're completely wrong - I don't think Fletcher et.al. think they've seen progress/growth and are on the right course. I think they're very upset with the way the year has gone. I don't think even they are naive enough to try and sell the '4th year in a row' thing to this fanbase.

Now, that doesn't really mean a whole lot either (what they think). He's handcuffed regardless of how he feels about the situation, so even if they are very disappointed there's not a whole lot of flexibility.

That is on Fletcher though, so he's going to spin it to save his job.

The fact that it seems that Parise was injured in January and still played him? He sacrificed long term for short term, which seems to be his MO as of late. But they will spin it, because if they don't Fletcher is going to be out of a job, Leipold will have dissatisfied fans clamoring for a change, and a lot of questions unanswered.

And they have already started to spin it. Look at the quotes lately by the players and team.

 

[TaLoN]

Who all is going to the viewing party saturday? I know I'll be there!

 

[Dakota Sioux]

Stars in 6. Hope they prove me wrong

 

[Nharris31]

Stars in 6. Hope they prove me wrong

Well It's more than most people are giving them.

 

[Bullrun]

If wild lose, it's expected and still disappointing season.

If wild wins, it's going to be pretty memorable and should unite the team, build some character.

Not expecting a wild series win but going to try to shed negativity because it's still damn fun to watch playoff hockey with our team in it.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Posted this in the main thread and I'd love to hear other poster's thoughts:

Even if Parise is out we can still roll out some solid lines. Honestly I'd be more worried if Haula is out cause his line has been our best recently.

Roll:
Nino-Haula-Pominville
Zucker-Koivu-Coyle
Vanek/Schroeder-Granlund-Fontaine/Jones
4th

Suter-Brodin
Scandella-Spurgeon
Reilly-Dumba

Dubnyk

Thoughts on forwards: Zucker-Koivu has shown chemistry last season and the beginning of this season, definitely try that out again. Vanek and Fontaine showed chemistry last year. If Nino-Haula-Pominville stops working then try Coyle in Pominville's place. Or roll the big boy line of Nino-Koivu-Coyle. Hope to god Graovac can get healthy and come up and make a difference.

Thoughts on defenders: Go back to the top 4 we were running last year with Suter paired with Brodin and Scandella paired with Spurgeon. Let Reilly and Dumba get their minutes through the power play and to drop the minutes of others (primarily Suter's, Brodin needs an increase in minutes). Reilly/Dumba have shown they can be competent in the d-zone but primarily give them o-zone starts during even strength. Give Suter-Brodin heavy d-zone starts as they are our best shutdown pairing we've even had. Most importantly: let Scandella and Spurgeon do their thing.

It's not as bad as people are making it out to be. Yes, losing Parise does hurt a lot but we aren't a superstar reliant team. We score by committee.

Apologizes for the rant.

GO WILD!

 

[NonsenseElimination]

I keep hearing people say the Stars have weak goaltending. Is everybody forgetting that we make even lousy backup goalies look like Vezina finalists all the time?

Also, I think the idea that Dubynk is clearly the better goalie in the series is a tough statement to make. He's let in countless soft goals this year and isn't nearly as good as he was last year. At least Dallas has two serviceable goalies. Kuemper is a mental-case in the regular season, I can only imagine what he'd be like in the playoffs lol

 

[Digitalbooya]

I keep hearing people say the Stars have weak goaltending. Is everybody forgetting that we make even lousy backup goalies look like Vezina finalists all the time?

Also, I think the idea that Dubynk is clearly the better goalie in the series is a tough statement to make. He's let in countless soft goals this year and isn't nearly as good as he was last year. At least Dallas has two serviceable goalies. Kuemper is a mental-case in the regular season, I can only imagine what he'd be like in the playoffs lol

Bold 1:

Niemi .905 sv%
Lehtonen .906 sv%

Dubnyk .918 sv%
Kuemper .915 sv%

Dubnyk is THE best goalie in this series. Kuemper could be better but he's unpredictable. Kuemper's best > Dubnyk's best IMO.


Bold 2: He won us a playoff series. Have you already forgotten? We are lucky Bryz faced just a single shot in game 7 OT. He was and still is a terrible goaltender.

 

[NonsenseElimination]

Bold 1:

Niemi .905 sv%
Lehtonen .906 sv%

Dubnyk .918 sv%
Kuemper .915 sv%

Dubnyk is THE best goalie in this series. Kuemper could be better but he's unpredictable. Kuemper's best > Dubnyk's best IMO.


Bold 2: He won us a playoff series. Have you already forgotten? We are lucky Bryz faced just a single shot in game 7 OT. He was and still is a terrible goaltender.

I think the save % stats are a little deceptive here. If the Dallas goalies played behind our D all year they would probably have similar, or better, save % than our guys and if our guys played behind Dallas's defense they would have lower save %s than they have with MN. Our defense keeps a ton of shots on the outside / low scoring areas.

 

[BigT2002]

I would be absolutely elated to see Coyle, Nino, Zucker and Dumba just wreck them.

But that only happens in NHL16

 

[WildRube09]

I think the save % stats are a little deceptive here. If the Dallas goalies played behind our D all year they would probably have similar, or better, save % than our guys and if our guys played behind Dallas's defense they would have lower save %s than they have with MN. Our defense keeps a ton of shots on the outside / low scoring areas.

Dallas goaltenders DONT play behind the Wild defense and Kemps / Dubs dont play behind Dallas' D.. so your point is irrelevant .

 

[Nharris31]

I would be absolutely elated to see Coyle, Nino, Zucker and Dumba just wreck them.

But that only happens in NHL16

Well they are kind of due if you think about is especially Zucker.

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

Wild officially announce that Parise is out indefinitely, Vanek week to week, Haula day to day. Only Haula is heading to Dallas

 

[00xtremeninja]

so our fourth line is going to lay the bricks to Dallas in the first two games, wear em down physically, and we take it in 6. wishful thinking right?

 

[tomgilbertfan]

Wild officially announce that Parise is out indefinitely, Vanek week to week, Haula day to day. Only Haula is heading to Dallas

 

[Generic User]

Knowing that their hardest worker/best forward is out indefinitely, the young Wild players HAVE TO step up. This is a huge opportunity for them. Coyle, Granlund, Nino, Zucker - eyes will be on you.

 

[BigT2002]

Wild officially announce that Parise is out indefinitely, Vanek week to week, Haula day to day. Only Haula is heading to Dallas

 

[tomgilbertfan]

That's some pre-season lines if I've ever seen them.

 

[Nharris31]

Listening to kfan PA is in the box. By the sound of it they seem to be pretty pumped up. Despite all the injuries.

 

[ewoksonhoth]

Game over man.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

 

[00xtremeninja]

Dear hockey Gods,

Please don't let us just get absolutely mullered in tomorrow night.

Wild fans

 

[Puhis]

Or maybe the new guys have a lil' fight in them. Playoff miracles have happened before. You know, show the world what you've got, given the opportunity.

Unlikely, but hey, at least that lineup should be able to grind. It's something.

I believe in this team. It may be foolish, but it's better than going all doom and gloom before the playoffs have even started.