Alex Bader
The Minnesota Wild are legit Stanley Cup contenders and should be feared by any team in the league right now. They won their eighth game in a row when they hung on and beat the San Jose Sharks Thursday evening by a score of 3-2.
The win improved their record to 19-6-1, they sit in first place in the Central Division by seven points. They are in first the Western Conference by three points. They also, currently sit first in the NHL.
However, the Panthers have a game in hand and are only behind by a point.
This might be the best Wild team that fans in the State of Hockey have seen. The only other team that comes to mind would be the 2003 team that made it to the Conference Finals but lost to the Ducks in four games.
They have played 26 games out of 82, they still have a long way to go to end of the season and then the playoffs which have not been kind to the Wild franchise.
However, the early signs indicate that this team is good, and not just good but great. They have now strung together a win streak compiled of some great teams competing for playoff spots - the Lightning, Oilers, and Leafs.
The Wild may not have been the best in the third period Thursday, but they found a way to pull the out the win. They did it with a full team effort.
Every guy was skating hard, back-checking, and playing physically. They got turnovers and capitalized on their chances.
Talbot was once again phenomenal.
Kaprizov has taken off after a slow start to the season, he had a goal and an assist to extend his scoring streak to a career-high of seven games.
Their depth has carried them and will continue to be the ace in their hand.
This team has great depth and the guys that they are calling up are playing great.
Mason Shaw made his debut for the Minnesota Wild - replaced Rem Pitlick - he looked great by muscling guys, backchecking, and creating chances. He almost had his first goal, but he hit the pipe.
If they can continue to get great goaltending from Talbot and Kaapo - who hasn't had a lot of time but has looked decent - and continue to get points from their depth guys this team has a great shot at the Finals.
They might have been an outside shot to start the season, but it is time that people start believing that this very well could be the year of the WILD.
The Wild defenseman - which was a question coming in to the season of how good they would be - have answered that question and then some. Kulikov, Benn, Merill, and Goligoski all have been playing great. Brodin has been playing solid per usual.
Minnesota Wild got their captain, Jared Spurgeon, back from injury. However, they lost Matt Dumba who was out due to an illness that was not Covid related.
Game Recap:
The Wild needed to start hot, and they did just that.
With 14 minutes left in the first period, The Wild got rewarded for their offensive pressure.
Kevin Fiala scored his first goal in seven games and his fourth of the season, 1-0 Wild. The goal came from a Merrill shot that was deflected, Fiala then batted it in the net out of the air.
The Wild had a flame lit under them. They continued to press and could've had a couple more goals if it wasn't for the great saves by the Sharks goalie, Adin Hill.
They continued to move the puck extremely well, like a warm knife cutting an ice cream cake, but couldn't add to the lead.
The Wild went into the second period up by one, but they completely dominated the play and jumped all over the Sharks. They outshot the Sharks 10-9, the Sharks had the final five shots of the period.
The Wild needed to continue to have the jump in the second period, a period they have played poorly in their past games like the Toronto and Edmonton game.
Early in the second period, Alex Goligoski took a shot to the face and went down the tunnel with the trainer. He returned later in the period.
Shortly after that, Merrill took a tripping penalty.
The Wild killed the penalty.
Then, Middleton took a penalty on Zuccarello.
The Wild made the Sharks pay.
Eriksson Ek got his 11th of the season, Zuccarello placed the puck on his stick and Ek just had to redirect the puck into the net, 2-0 Wild.
With 6:27 left to play in the second period, the Wild went back on to the power-play.
The Wild made the Sharks pay once again.
Kevin Fiala went through the neutral zone and found the streaking Jordan Greenway on the wing who put it past Hill to make it 3-0 Wild. It was his first career power-play goal.
The Wild played great in the second period. They were rewarded with a three-goal lead going into the third period.
They needed to continue that level of play to close out the game.
They got a power-play right off the bat, however, they could not capitalize on the opportunity and it would bite them.
Right after, the Sharks got one back to make it 3-1. Erik Karlsson shot the puck and Dahlen tipped it in.
The Sharks continued to press and had all of the momentum.
Jordie Benn took a penalty to send the Sharks back on to the power-play.
The Wild killed the huge penalty, but the Sharks kept up the onslaught.
Talbot once again had to make several great saves.
Brodin took a penalty and put the Sharks back on to the Wild power-play.
This time the Sharks made the Wild pay, Hertl scored on a rebound with 6:34 left, 3-2 Wild.
The Sharks continued to press, and they pulled the goalie.
It didn't work out for the Sharks.
Greenway muscled his way past defenders for the empty-net goal to seal the game for the Wild.
Sharks pulled the goalie again in hopes of a miracle.
Kaprizov tipped a pass and scored an empty netter to no doubt, seal the deal.
Minnesota won 5-2.
They have a great chance to get nine in a row on Saturday when they visit the Kings. The Kings are not the best team, nor are they the worst team.
It will be ever so important for them to get the early lead and play in front as the game marks the first of a back-to-back, with the second game being played Sunday against Vegas.
What's Next:
Minnesota Wild (19-6-1) vs. LA Kings (11-10-4)
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. Puck drop at 9:30 p. m. central time
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