2024-25 Wild Season

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Also having the 4th line and 3rd D pair out for overtime when you are riding your horses is a choice. Bleep it just another 1st round exit for the Wild.
 

The difference in this series is two overtime games. That's the definition of heartbreak. The series play is essentially even.

It ain't over yet.
 

It’s a fascinating if frustrating series. It’s the hockey version of a contrast in football teams: Vegas is ball control and the Wolves are quick strike. It’s also a reprise of Wolves-Lakers: The Wild rides Kaprisov & Boldy while the Knights have the deeper team.
 




They have been playing hard. And that's the reason the series has been as close as it has been. But Nyquist drags his leg a bit...Hartman's goal counts and the Wild are likely up 3-2 in this series.

Merrill lost his coverage and Howden's goal was so much like the Rossi goals he's had with the 4th line in this series. The puck comes out from below the goal line out front where he's alone and he buries it. Fleury had no chance.
 

If nothing else, despite the frustration from all of us, this series is a great example of why the NHL playoffs are such an awesome event every year. The margin between teams is so thin. Every game this series was a couple of bounces/saves/penalties etc. from going the other way. Nobody would be shocked if any of Dallas/Colorado/Winnipeg/Vegas/Edmonton/LA advances out of the west. The parity is incredible and it makes for amazing intensity. Unfortunately in our case it looks likely to cause a lot of heartbreak as well.
 

Bad Gopher said:
The difference in this series is two overtime games. That's the definition of heartbreak. The series play is essentially even.

It ain't over yet.
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The difference in the series has 100% been the goalie play. Gus has been largely unreal and Adin Hill has been disappointing I would say.

For the most part, Vegas has liked how they have played since the 1st period of Game 2 when they were down 3-0 early. Cassidy said he even liked how they played in Game 3 where they thought a few bad bounces and some puck luck or that game could have gone the other way.

It's a small move on a lower line but inserting Tanner Pearson for Victor Olofsson for the last two games has been the right move. Olofsson is more of a scorer and has the younger legs but Pearson is better suited for this kind of a playoff series, more of a straight line player and has a Stanley Cup pedigree with the Kings. Great assist from him on the OT goal by Howden.

Pietrangelo is looking 35 years old and has for most of latter part of this season. I fear that's the first contract that this Front Office has signed that won't age well. The tying goal Boldy scored against him was inexcusable for a blue-liner of his pedigree. Two more years on that deal, ouch.

It's still anybody's series, short turnaround going into Game 6
 

From the Parkinglot said:
It is tough when one team doesn’t make the playoffs for like 13 years straight.
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The Wild have only gotten out of the 1st Round in 3 seasons.
The Wolves have only gotten out of the 1st Round in 2 seasons.

Pretty much a push there.
 



Possible injuries as we look to Game 6.

MIN: Gus leaves the game with "illness" in the 3rd period, one would think not serious enough to miss Game 6?

VGK: Pavel Dorofeyev, who led VGK with 35 goals this season, left the game in the 3rd period and didn't return. No word yet on what this is. If he can't go in Game 6, would think Vegas Vic Olofsson would draw in his place, as he was a healthy scratch for the last 2 games for Tanner Pearson.
 

From the Parkinglot said:
5 forwards on the PP and instant goal for Vegas. Of course Minnesota comes right back to score.
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I almost forgot about this one, because a VGK beat guy hit on this after the game; happens to be the same guy who's been harping on how much of an idiot Hynes is.

5 forwards on the PP against some teams may not be a bad idea; but when you're playing against a PK that has Eichel and Karlsson, it's kind of a galactically stupid move. WTF...
 





Ope3 said:
The Wild have only gotten out of the 1st Round in 3 seasons.
The Wolves have only gotten out of the 1st Round in 2 seasons.

Pretty much a push there.
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The wolves can’t make it to the second round if they are not in the playoffs.
 
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Ogie Ogilthorpe said:
I almost forgot about this one, because a VGK beat guy hit on this after the game; happens to be the same guy who's been harping on how much of an idiot Hynes is.

5 forwards on the PP against some teams may not be a bad idea; but when you're playing against a PK that has Eichel and Karlsson, it's kind of a galactically stupid move. WTF...
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The handling of “certain” players by the organization is crazy to me.

Trading Khusnutdinov
Rossi as a 4th line center.
Trading a 2nd round pick for Nyquist
The insistence in playing Johansson when he doesn’t give effort all the time
Billy G’s love of veterans like Freddy G and Booge whatever the defenseman.
The number of contacts that have no move clauses in them

But win two games and it all goes out the window.
 

Defending NHL Champions will retain their title for another series.
Bolts simply could not play the same hard, grinding, winning style that the Bolts use to employ...and that the Panthers now employ.
Caps move on as do the Canes who will play the Caps next. Home ice goes to the Caps
 

From the Parkinglot said:
The wolves can’t make it to the second round if they are not in the playoffs.
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Well sure, but the Wild aren't very adept at making it to the Second Round even when they do qualify for the Postseason. 3-10 in the Opening Round, including the 2020 Bubble.

As of now the Wolves and Wild have advanced to the Round of 8 a grand total of 3 times each. Push, with the skating Ws an opportunity to still get there for the first time in a DECADE.
 

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