Series Talk: Wild vs. Jets (Round 1)

[Guffman]

The interesting thing to me is the playoff experience differential. I do have a good feeling that the Jets will overcome that aspect. The leadership on the team have kept the Jets well balanced throughout the year (not a single losing streak).

I think the big concern is whether our goaltending keeps up to regular season standings. That can always be a huge wild card in a series outcome.

Grats on locking up the playoff berth. Still some positioning to be finalized.

 

[Steenager]

After a few cocktails..... **** the Jets. Let's get this thing started. It's all Jets fans here, blah blah blah, here to lube you up so we can stick itin ya. I'd rather have it with no lube thank you. We know Coyle and Granny are bringing playoff hockey A game, because they always do. Let's hope the rest don't disappear this year. I love the Jets. They have my favorite player. 33. But only until tonight. Now I hate. I'll drop the gloves. Wanna go? Lol. Playoff hockey rocks, everything else sucks.

This rules. You sir, know what this is all about.

See you in the playoffs. I want a battle. I want it to get messy. I want to win in four.

 

[Nharris31]

The interesting thing to me is the playoff experience differential. I do have a good feeling that the Jets will overcome that aspect. The leadership on the team have kept the Jets well balanced throughout the year (not a single losing streak).

I think the big concern is whether our goaltending keeps up to regular season standings. That can always be a huge wild card in a series outcome.

Grats on locking up the playoff berth. Still some positioning to be finalized.

The Wild just became less experienced on the blueline.

 

[W75]

Did I mention that Jets are the favorites in this match-up? Yeah, I think I did, but just to be like absolutely clear.

We've got nothing to lose. Barely made into the playoffs..

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Did I mention that Jets are the favorites in this match-up? Yeah, I think I did, but just to be like absolutely clear.

We've got nothing to lose. Barely made into the playoffs..

Yup. It's going to be a good motivator.

Also, I don't have time for Bill Simmons anymore but this Wild team could be a good test for his Ewing Theory.

 

[57special]

I hope it's a good natured series with the Jets fans. I've always felt that the whole "INTENSE RIVALRY!!!" thing is overrated and romanticized. I would rather have a fun and light hearted rivalry, hating someone takes too much energy.

As long as you know that a "good hearted rivalry" to Canadian hockey fans, means a drunken brawl where no one has permanent brain damage, or goes to jail for more than a night or two.

 

[57special]

The Wild defense has become not very playoff experienced either.

Eh...Spurgeon should be back, then Brodin, Dumba, and Prosser. Good enough. If, and it's a big if, Spurgeon is healthy, then we should be good. Training wheels are off for Brodin and Dumba, that's all. Had to happen sooner or later.

My worry about this team all season has been the forward play.

- The 4th line has FINALLY come together. That is big. Foligno still has the puck skills and IQ of a drunken Ostrich, but hey, a drunken Ostrich is hard to play against. They are fast, strong, dangerous, and unpredictable. Ek is turning into a defensive monster. Winnik is somewhere in between. Sober Ostrich?

- The top 6 has been ok or better. Granlund, zucker and Staal have been really good this year, for the most part. Koivu has been good since Christmas. Parise's recent play has been exciting. Nino...well, if he's the worst player in a top 6 then I'll take it. We might not be as talented as the Jets in our top 6, but we're not bad.

- the 3rd line is where we are lacking. Cullen is...neutral. Sorta like what you get when you want the definition of an average 3rd liner. He does, however, have undeniable experience in the playoffs, and he still seems to have decent wheels. Coyle ...well, he hasn't been playing with the best players....he's got to be better. His size will be an asset against the Jets. It's the other wing that is the problem, though. To continue the bird analogy, he plays like a drunken Hummingbird. This is not good. Greenway....I don't know what he is, but at least he has size and reach. Seems to skate alright, and have an idea where to be. I think he's got a lot of adjusting to do with the speed and strength of the NHL. In general, I don't think the 3rd line is going to give us anything, and might hurt us a bit.

Having said all that, the only chance that the Wild have is if Dubnyk is the best goalie in the series. He has been pretty good this year, but has a habit of letting in a soft goal early, then playing really well the rest of the game. While it's good that he doesn't fold under pressure after a weak goal, I don't think we have the luxury of letting in a weak goal. Stalock really isn't an option. The best thing that he can do is play a couple of games down the stretch to rest Doobs, and teach him how to handle the damn puck.

 

[Uberdachen]

After a few cocktails..... **** the Jets. Let's get this thing started. It's all Jets fans here, blah blah blah, here to lube you up so we can stick itin ya. I'd rather have it with no lube thank you. We know Coyle and Granny are bringing playoff hockey A game, because they always do. Let's hope the rest don't disappear this year. I love the Jets. They have my favorite player. 33. But only until tonight. Now I hate. I'll drop the gloves. Wanna go? Lol. Playoff hockey rocks, everything else sucks.

Hell yes!
f*** the Jets!
f*** lube!

Take your shitty Thrasher bones, twirl them in your shitty beard and eat a wispy f***ing goose leg of shame!

 

[Bazeek]

Eh...Spurgeon should be back, then Brodin, Dumba, and Prosser. Good enough. If, and it's a big if, Spurgeon is healthy, then we should be good. Training wheels are off for Brodin and Dumba, that's all. Had to happen sooner or later.

My worry about this team all season has been the forward play.

- The 4th line has FINALLY come together. That is big. Foligno still has the puck skills and IQ of a drunken Ostrich, but hey, a drunken Ostrich is hard to play against. They are fast, strong, dangerous, and unpredictable. Ek is turning into a defensive monster. Winnik is somewhere in between. Sober Ostrich?

- The top 6 has been ok or better. Granlund, zucker and Staal have been really good this year, for the most part. Koivu has been good since Christmas. Parise's recent play has been exciting. Nino...well, if he's the worst player in a top 6 then I'll take it. We might not be as talented as the Jets in our top 6, but we're not bad.

- the 3rd line is where we are lacking. Cullen is...neutral. Sorta like what you get when you want the definition of an average 3rd liner. He does, however, have undeniable experience in the playoffs, and he still seems to have decent wheels. Coyle ...well, he hasn't been playing with the best players....he's got to be better. His size will be an asset against the Jets. It's the other wing that is the problem, though. To continue the bird analogy, he plays like a drunken Hummingbird. This is not good. Greenway....I don't know what he is, but at least he has size and reach. Seems to skate alright, and have an idea where to be. I think he's got a lot of adjusting to do with the speed and strength of the NHL. In general, I don't think the 3rd line is going to give us anything, and might hurt us a bit.

Having said all that, the only chance that the Wild have is if Dubnyk is the best goalie in the series. He has been pretty good this year, but has a habit of letting in a soft goal early, then playing really well the rest of the game. While it's good that he doesn't fold under pressure after a weak goal, I don't think we have the luxury of letting in a weak goal. Stalock really isn't an option. The best thing that he can do is play a couple of games down the stretch to rest Doobs, and teach him how to handle the damn puck.

Solid State of the Union here. Coyle and Nino stepping up to their own high water marks seems like the most realistic hope for the us right now. I don't think either has been bad lately, but they really need to be at their best going into Winnipeg.

With Greenway I don't think we'll see him physically overwhelming anyone this year, but in the few games he has used his reach pretty well to poke pucks away and break things up. If he can continue to do that against the Jets I think the 3rd line might be less of a problem than we fear. A lot will depend on Coyle and Cullen, though.

Overall though, his team lives or dies by Dubnyk.

 

[W75]

One of those rare moments... Just enough happy, enough relaxed, enough drunk, enough in the playoffs, enough tension but not overly, having a good moment in a good place. Everything's fine.

From now on it'll be a rollercoaster, uphills and downhills. Hockey giveth and hockey taketh. My body is ready. Let it flow.

 

[SomethingGeneric]

The person i am definitely most excited to see step up in the playoffs has to be Cullen. This is what he signed for. Screw the regular season, his time to shine is now. Not only will he be our third line center he also gets a top 6 winger in Coyle and either a known commodity in Ennis or a rookie with tons of potential/skill. I know 57 is a little worried about that line but i look at is as a line that has all the possibility in the world. Coyle usually steps up in the playoffs and Greenway/Ennis should be motivated to finish strong for next year. Definitely the line i'll be watching closest.

 

[CaptainChef]

Main board, on reddit, and the fans that come to MN have been unusually snobby the last 2 seasons. Usually my favorite games to go to when the Jets are in town but the guys that have been sitting in my section have been just awful people lately.

Like any fan base, we probably have a few bad apples, but for the most part we're friendly Manitobans living with a little insecurity. Sure we're a lot more skilled at forward on paper but you guys have probably always had the better defense. Suter's injury sure has changed everything, but we still worry a lot since we have so little playoff experience to rely on & a hot Dubnyk combined with an inexperienced playoff goaltender in Hellybuyck could make this much closer than any of our fans wish.

 

[TZM]

I'll be pissed for the night if the Jets win the series. Then it's all good the next day and I want them to win it all. Cheers!

 

[csk]

Jets fan just popping in to say good luck. Mad respect for your team, fan base, etc. Should be some damn good hockey coming up for all of us to enjoy!

 

[57special]

All these Jets fans dropping in, pretending to be nice....I'm not buying it. Not for a second!

Let's get real here. There is only one winner. The loser gets mocked and ridiculed. That's the way it is.

 

[HPsauce]

All these Jets fans dropping in, pretending to be nice....I'm not buying it. Not for a second!

Let's get real here. There is only one winner. The loser gets mocked and ridiculed. That's the way it is.

At least you're honest.

We aren't really pretending, we're just actually terrified that we'll lose to you when we probably shouldn't... Because around here we've become super accustomed to losing when we should win.

This team is different than years past. We have a goalie now.

Helle vs Dubby.

Be honest, as I know you're fully capable. Which one is more likely to win it for his team?

 

[BagHead]

This rules. You sir, know what this is all about.

See you in the playoffs. I want a battle. I want it to get messy. I want to win in four.

Well, I want it over in 5 in favor of the Wild. It's about time you guys got your first franchise playoff win.

Yup. It's going to be a good motivator.

Also, I don't have time for Bill Simmons anymore but this Wild team could be a good test for his Ewing Theory.

Reminds me of the year Lindros was injured for the Flyers, and they went on a tear to go to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to get Lindros back and lose. '00 post-season, I believe it was.

I'd love to see the Wild do something similar. No chance of us getting Suter back, so I guess the Cup is ours!

 

[gphr513]

least you're honest.

We aren't really pretending, we're just actually terrified that we'll lose to you when we probably shouldn't... Because around here we've become super accustomed to losing when we should win.

As Minnesota fans, we get the thing we love most. We get to be the underdog so there's no pressure on us, and if we lose we can just say "Oh well..."

 

[DigitalBoldy]

I hope we hate Jets fans as much as we hate Avs fans by the end of the series.

 

[NonsenseElimination]

Well, I want it over in 5 in favor of the Wild. It's about time you guys got your first franchise playoff win.






Reminds me of the year Lindros was injured for the Flyers, and they went on a tear to go to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to get Lindros back and lose. '00 post-season, I believe it was.

I'd love to see the Wild do something similar. No chance of us getting Suter back, so I guess the Cup is ours!

It would also be a stunning rebuke to CF's spending all that money on Suter to give us a chance to get a cup!

 

[57special]

At least you're honest.

We aren't really pretending, we're just actually terrified that we'll lose to you when we probably shouldn't... Because around here we've become super accustomed to losing when we should win.

This team is different than years past. We have a goalie now.

Helle vs Dubby.

Be honest, as I know you're fully capable. Which one is more likely to win it for his team?

neither. They both will be decent, with the slight edge to Doobs. Jets overall talent edge will more than make up for it. The only thing that the Wild might do is soften up the Jets for the Preds.

 

[2Pair]

neither. They both will be decent, with the slight edge to Doobs. Jets overall talent edge will more than make up for it. The only thing that the Wild might do is soften up the Jets for the Preds.

If Dubnyk is the better goalie throughout the series, the Wild will win it.

 

[204hockey]

All these Jets fans dropping in, pretending to be nice....I'm not buying it. Not for a second!

Let's get real here. There is only one winner. The loser gets mocked and ridiculed. That's the way it is.

im not gonna pretend to be nice.. i hope we kick the living shit out of you guys. but if we do lose.. i hope u guys kick the living shit out of who ever u face and win the cup..

 

[NHL1674]

I hope we hate Jets fans as much as we hate Avs fans by the end of the series.

I don't know if that's possible.

Meanwhile, we just clinched 3rd.

 

[Wild11MN]

So we're locked into 3. Still possible the Jets pass the Preds.