Minnesota Wild Start Western Canadian Road Trip with Win in Vancouver

What a great all-around victory for the Minnesota Wild.  Coming into tonight’s game, Minnesota sat seven points out of the playoffs.  The Wild persevered and came out with two points.

For those of you that stayed up late into Thursday morning, I commend you.  A game that ended around 12:15 am didn’t disappoint.  With the Wild seven points behind a struggling Coyote team, desperation mode set in.  Right out of the gate the Wild had a good jump to their step.  62 seconds into the game Kevin roofed an absolute rocket from the right circle.

It was one of those shots you barley see and ask yourself, where did that even go in?  The answer is the top shelf, where mom hides the thin mints. It’s been a real treat to see Fiala develop this year.  If you’re looking for more on Fiala’s emergence this season check out Brandon Quast’s article earlier this week.

After a quick start, the Wild failed to register another shot on goal for ten minutes until Ryan Suter finally landed one.  After that shot, the Wild battened down the hatch and went to work.  The Wild received the games’ first power play but failed to convert.  The Wild’s sloppy play trying to enter the offensive zone cost them a chance to double the lead.  After the power play, Dubnyk came up with a big save on a J.T. Miller breakaway opportunity.

With 1:43 left in the 1st period, Joel Eriksson Ek took a holding penalty to put Vancouver on the power play.  A minute into the penalty kill, Ryan Hartman made a nice play on a puck in the defensive zone.  Instead of clearing the zone Hartman zipped a pass to Jordan Greenway, who had a step on Quinn Hughes.  With Greenway’s towering frame bearing down on Markstrom, Hughes was left with no other option than try to slow Greenway down.  In doing so, Hughes took a holding penalty and negated the power play.  The Wild finished out the remainder of the period and carried the 4 on 4 into the second period.

More of the Same in the Second Period

The Wild started off the period with a 4 on 4.  With an abbreviated power play, the Wild failed to extend their lead.  Directly after the power play, Fiala set up Parise on what looked like a no doubt go-ahead goal to make it 2-0.  However, Parise was unable to gather the puck.  Moments after Quinn Hughes and Jay Beagle entered the Wild zone on a 2-on-1 and Beagle tapped one under Dubnyk’s glove.  With multiples chances to extend the lead to 2-0, the tables were instantly turned and momentum was pushed back to Vancouver.

The Wild went back and forth sharing chances with Vancouver.  Eriksson Ek was gloved down by Markstrom and Dubnyk copied the move on Pettersson.  Zuccarello had a point-blank opportunity in the second period, but he chose to circle the net and look for a pass.  After circling the net Zuccarello tried to dump the puck back down to the corner.  The try was unsuccessful and resulted in a costly turnover.  Directly following the turnover Brodin was called for a tripping minor on Calder Trophy-hopeful Quinn Hughes.

After a successful Wild penalty kill, Brad Hunt skated the puck into the offensive zone for the Wild.  Circling the net, Hunt tossed some sauce to Kunin breaking for the net.  Kunin was able to get a shot off that looked like it was trapped between Markstrom’s legs.  Seconds later Kunin’s hands went toward the sky as the puck slowly trickled between Markstrom’s legs and over the red line.

Brad Hunt was on the ice for a 1:51 shift leading up to Kunin’s goal.  Galchenyuk had himself a great second period.  Hands down his best game as a member of the Wild.  He was calm on pucks and his positioning in the defensive zone caused problems for Vancouver.  The Wild walked into the locker room with a 2-1 lead going into the daunting third period.  Would we see yet another Wild third-period letdown?

Wheels Fell Off the Wagon… At Least Until the New Guy Puts them Back On

The third period started much like the second with an early Vancouver goal.  J.T. Miller, on a redirection that slips right through Dubnyk’s legs.  It’s been a brutally difficult season for Dubnyk. It’s been tough to judge his play this season with what he has going on off of the ice.  The numbers are bad, we all know, but it’s just tough to be critical on his play from a fan standpoint.

Three minutes later Wild fans witnessed the impossible.  Not another third-period letdown?  J.T. Miller again from the left circle with an absolute cannon.  The Canucks had great puck movement on the play.  Resulting in Dubnyk moving from left to right, off-balance and trying to come out to challenge.  Dubnyk wasn’t able to get his glove on the puck as it whistled just underneath.  Moments before the goal the Wild lost a controversial race to the puck that would’ve been icing on Vancouver.  The icing was waved off and thus resulting in a goal for Vancouver. (editors note: not to mention Carson Soucy getting held up by the Linesman that waived off the Icing and allowed Vancouver to regain possession)

The Wild had their chances in the third.  Soucy had a great look, Greenway right after him on a rebound he couldn’t get to go.  Staal had a nice look on the side of the net but he didn’t pull the trigger in time.  It’s been a tough go for Staal lately.  His play as of late has been awful.  Slow on pucks, flat-feet, and unable to create offensively.

With 4:45 left in the third period, newly acquired winger Alex Galchenyuk scored his first goal as a member of Minnesota Wild.  Galchenyuk had the lunch pale mentality the entire game.  He got to the dirty areas and came out with pucks.  There was a sandpaper grit to his game tonight.  After Soucy’s shot went wide, Galchenyuk gathered the puck, turned and tried to center the puck.  The puck deflected off a Vancouver defender and found its home in the back of the net.

The Wild were able to secure a much-needed point in the standings.  Heading into the overtime frame the Wild are 3-7 in overtime sessions this season.