Minnesota Wild Three Stars of the Week
Third Star- Charlie Coyle
Jan 6, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle (3) carries the puck during the second period against the San Jose Sharks at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Charlie Coyle had a decent week with a goal and an assist, in a week where the Wild dropped all four games they played. Coyle has really gone the way of the line that he’s on, and when paired up with some good offensive talent, he’s responded on the scoresheet. Coyle notched a goal against Nashville and an assist against San Jose, fired 5 shots and was 63% on faceoffs in the first clash with Chicago, and like much of the team, had a forgettable night when the Wild went to Chicago.
To say that Coyle has been a disappointment so far this year would be a slight understatement, but he response to being put with top 6 talent has been promising, and his 4 points in his last 5 games could be a sign that he, unlike the team, is finding a little bit of a groove.
Second Star- Jason Pominville
Jan 6, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Jason Pominville (29) passes during the second period against the San Jose Sharks at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Pommer had himself a nice little week, with a goal and three assists, despite the Wild’s futility. Pommer may be remembered for a bad defensive lapse last week, he managed two assists against San Jose goal and an assist against Chicago at home. Pominville quietly leads the team with 32 points right now, and has played in every game for the Wild this season, also donning the Alternate’s Captain patch during absences from Parise and Suter.
Pominville has had his critics this season, but all in all I don’t think we can really call him out for being a disappointment, in the grand scheme of things. He may not reach the 30 goals he got last season, but he’s been a consistent contributor on a team full of players that are…. not so much.
First Star Jason Zucker
Jan 6, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Jason Zucker (16) celebrates his goal with forward Charlie Coyle (3) during the third period against the San Jose Sharks at Xcel Energy Center. The Sharks defeated 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
This was a slam dunk, slow pitch softball or wide open receiver. Jason Zucker absolutely lit up the statsheets while the Wild wallowed in their own filth for the past week, to the tune of 3 goals and an assist. Most of this came from his monster game against San Jose, where he notched two goals and an assist while filing in for Zach Parise on the Wild’s top line.
Zucker has had a breakout season so far with the Wild, and leads the team in goals with 15. While many have lamented his role with the team, his ice time has gradually increased as the season has come along, and you can make a real argument for Zucker’s development being the lone bright spot of the season for the Manbearpigs.