Alex Bader
Kevin Fiala led the way with two goals for the Minnesota Wild as they dethroned the New York Rangers by a score of 5-2 and found their mojo while doing it. Minnesota needed a big win to turn the burning truck around. Hopefully, the dominant win over the Rangers will be the magic mojo pill that the Wild need to get back on the winning track to make a push for the playoffs in a deadlocked central division.
BADER'S TAKE:
When the Wild are fully healthy, they are scary.
With a completely healthy roster for the first time in several months, the Minnesota Wild looked like the team we saw before the All-Star break.
Maybe it was Greenway and Dumba returning, maybe it was luck was on their side again, or maybe it was just time to put in a full effort after a series of tough results.
Maybe it was all of the above.
What I do know is that when this team has their full lineup of guys, they are scary.
Right off the bat, the GREEF line set the tone of the game and the rest of the team followed. Kaprizov had his best game in at least his last 10.
Fiala continued to be on fire and he is continually playing like a player that Wild fans will hate to see leave if it comes to it.
After the Rangers tied the game in the second, the game had the feeling that the Wild were once again going to throw away a game in which they started well.
The Wild instead responded with energy and scored right away to regain the lead.
Having the core group of guys out there like Dumba, Greenway, Foligno, Spurgeon, Brodin, and Ek is critical for this team's success. Yes, Kaprizov, Fiala, Hartman, and Boldy are also very critical keys for this team to have success, but they have not been injured much.
Dumba, Greenway, Foligno, Spurgeon, Brodin, and Ek have all been injured at various times this season and their presence is greatly noticed. The Wild have good depth players, but it is hard for anyone to fill those skates.
If the Wild can stay healthy and enter down the stretch with their full complement of players, they will be a lock for the #2 seed in the Central. The Avalanche are a lock in first place, unless something drastic happens to them.
Things are getting tight in the Central.
1st. Colorado ( 87 pts. ) 58 games played
2nd. St. Louis ( 71 pts. ) 56 games played
3rd. Minnesota ( 69 pts. ) 55 games played
4th. Nashville ( 68 pts. ) 56 games played WC#1
5th. Dallas ( 67 pts. ) 56 games played WC#2
Game Recap:
For the first time since early November, the Minnesota Wild was completely healthy. Hopefully, getting everyone back will be just what the doctor ordered for the Wild to get their mojo back.
The Wild started the way they needed and gained several scoring chances. It was a fast-paced start to the game.
Kaprizov had two great chances early and looked like he had an extra jump of energy in him.
It continued to be a fast-paced and physical start to the game.
Kaprizov blew out of the zone and up the ice, he dropped the puck to a trailing Hartman who ripped it low blocker side. It was Hartman's 23rd goal of the season and was his fourth goal in four games.
Kaprizov picked up the assist and now has nine points in his last six games.
Minnesota continued to press.
Eriksson Ek made a strong play to send Greenway into the offensive zone, Greenway then found Foligno atop the circle who blasted it towards the net. Ek managed to tip it to redirect the puck into the net for his 17th goal.
The assist was the 100th career point for Greenway.
Wild had a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota took the two-goal lead into the second period after a dominant first 20-minutes by the Wild.
The second period started slower than the first, but it still had a high intensity with both teams playing hard-checking hockey.
Dryden Hunt scored for the Rangers on an odd-man rush after Dumba got caught out of position. The Wild lead was cut to one, 2-1.
Shortly after the goal, Bjugstad was tripped by Nemeth and the Wild went to the power-play.
Zibanejad took down Zuccarello with what looked like a hook and scored a breakaway short-handed goal.
Minnesota responded extremely well, they pushed back and took back the lead on the power-play. Matt Boldy found Fiala on the back door for a wide-open shot to make it 3-2 in favor of Minnesota.
Minnesota continued the pressure. The Wild won a face-off, Foligno got a lead pass and he scored on the breakaway for his 19th of the season, 4-2 Wild.
Zuccarello found Fiala cross-ice and Fiala scored a filthy backhand goal. In 26 games since December 20th, Fiala has 16 goals and 33 points.
The Wild went into the third and final period up by a score of 5-2, and they needed a solid effort to come away with the win.
Minnesota continued their great play in the early parts of the third period.
Kaprizov continued to play stellar and he wanted to put one in the back of the net. The wild were up by three, but they played like they were down by two.
Minnesota put in a solid and complete effort for the first time in several games. They received a huge standing ovation from the home crowd and hopefully they can keep the mojo rolling.
What's Next:
The Wild head to Detroit on Thursday for a date against the Red Wings. The Wild won the first meeting back on February 14th, but it was not the best effort from Minnesota. Since then, the Wild have lost six of nine.
They enter the game after was a big win over the New York Rangers. Talbot will likely get the start and then Kahkonen will get the second of the back-to-backs in Columbus. Talbot will most likely start the Koivu retirement game on Sunday.
Since the first meeting, the Red Wings are on a three-game losing streak and have lost five of their last seven. They are 24-27-6 on the season, while they are likely out of the playoffs, the Wild need to make sure they grab two critical points. After having a fantastic complete game against the Rangers, the Wild need to keep it rolling.
Thursday, March 10, 2022. at 6:00 p. m. central time
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