The Wild Didn't Show Up Against The Panthers

Alex Bader

The Minnesota Wild were no match for the high-flying Florida Panthers on Saturday night as they fell by a score of 5-4. The Wild failed to come out with intensity and didn't show up until the third period, which cost them the game. The Wild fell to 11-6 on the season and 2-2 in their last four.

The Wild could not match the play of the Panthers who are being coached by the Wild legend, Andrew Brunette.

BADER'S TAKE

It was a humbling game for the Wild.

This Wild team is different and the future is bright. However, they are not quite a Stanley Cup contender and that was proved tonight.

The Florida Panthers are the best team in the league right now and many are dubbing them a favorite to win the Cup. The game tonight was a great chance for the Wild to see where their game matched up with the Panthers. It was easy to see that the Wild were just outmatched all night.

This Wild team is a playoff team no doubt, they may even be a Western Conference final team. I do not think they have enough depth and enough skill to go all the way this year.

They have a lot of young guys and they need time to get the experience. Like I said, the future is bright and this team is still going to be competitive. They are super fun to watch and they can win any game but their consistency lately has been an issue.

The Wild had another poor start to the game and didn't create anything until the third period.

They had a great third period and if they had played like that in the whole game, they just might have had a different result from the game.

They need to find their consistency quickly because they have gone 2-2 in their last four games, winning every other game.

They have another tough game tomorrow against the two-time reigning champions, Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Wild will most likely be without Spurgeon, who left the game early in the first period with a lower-body injury.

They will need to find their legs early and start hot so that they are not chasing the game, something that has become all too common this season.

Game Recap:

The Wild needed to get a fast start and put the pressure on the Panthers, who haven't lost a game at home, coming into the game against the Wild.

However, it was the Panthers who came out fast and hot. Seven minutes into the first period, the Panthers had complete control and had a 7-1 shots on goal advantage.

Talbot had to be sharp and not allow the Wild to go down early.

After a scuffle with Montour, Greenway was unlucky to get the only penalty and put the Panthers on the power play.

The Wild's penalty kill was strong and they efficiently killed the penalty. The Wild PK is 19 for 21 over their last couple of games.

The Wild couldn't get any momentum from the kill and the Panthers continued to attack.

The Wild spent much of the first period in their own zone defending. It was a slow and poor start. They needed to be better especially against the best team in the league (record-wise).

Eventually, the Panthers broke the seal with a goal by Owen Tippet, 1-0 Florida.

The Wild got out of a garbage period only down by one in large part due to the excellent play from Talbot.

Spurgeon got injured early into the period and did not play for the remaining game.

Minnesota started the second period the same way as the first, slow and poor.

Vatrano made it 2-0 for the Panthers.

Minnesota drew a penalty and went to the power play with a chance to cut the deficit in half.

Eriksson Ek scored a beauty of a goal to give the Wild life, Zuccarello picked up the assist. It was his seventh goal of the season.

The Panthers responded well and got another goal from Vatrano, 3-1 Panthers.

The Wild went into the third period down by two goals and needed to pick up their play if they wanted to come back against a team undefeated at home.

Kaprizov did exactly what the Wild needed from him to start the third period.

He poked a puck into the neutral zone, Gaudreau fed him, and Kaprizov buried it on the breakaway, 3-2 Panthers. It was Kaprizov's fifth goal of the season.

Once again, the Panthers responded to the Wild goal by getting a quick goal to give the Panthers the 4-2 lead. Verhaeghe got the goal for the Panthers.

There were 13 minutes left in the game and the Wild trailed by two.

The Wild got a power play with a chance to cut the deficit to one.

However, the power play did just the opposite, the Panthers scored a shorthanded goal to push the lead to 5-2.

Evason challenged the play for off-sides and it was successful, it was not a goal, and the Panthers' lead stayed at 4-2.

However, the Wild power play still failed to capitalize on their chance and remained down by two.

Kevin Fiala, who has been in Evason's dog house, was not on the power play.

Evason pulled the goalie with five minutes left.

With 45.1 seconds left in the game, Greenway was able to slam the puck in the net to give the Wild a chance, 4-3 Panthers.

The Panthers got the empty net goal to make it 5-3.

Hartman scared with 8 seconds left, but it was more of a consolation goal - the game was over.

The Wild fell to the Florida Panthers, 5-4.

What's Next:

Minnesota ( 11-6 ) at Tampa Bay ( 9-4-3 ) Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021.

Puck drop at 4 p. m. central.

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