Alex Bader
The Minnesota Wild had another lackluster performance in Winnipeg against the Jets as Minnesota fell by a score of 6-3. The Wild failed to show up in the final 40 minutes and got outplayed by a Jets club desperate for points. It was only the Wild's second regulation loss in their last 14 games, both being at the hands of the Winnipeg jets.
Minnesota will have a chance to bounce back on Friday night in front of home fans when they face the Florida Panthers.
BADER'S TAKE:
Poor game or did the Jets figure the Wild out?
I do not think that Winnipeg solved the Wild or that they are better than the Minnesota Wild.
With that said the Jets were the better team in the last two meetings, but that was only because the Wild had probably their worst two games of the season and they happened to be against the Jets.
The Wild completely dominated the Jets at home. The Jets were playing more desperately mainly because they are chasing the playoffs whereas the Wild are currently safely in the playoffs.
There were moments in the game where the Wild were the better team. In the first period it was all Minnesota. In moments of the third period, the Wild showed why they have the record that they have by dominating the play for parts of the period.
The Jets fed off the crowd and the Wild looked tired.
If the Wild were to face the Jets in the playoffs I have no fear of the Wild winning, but the Jets would need to get in first.
They had a poor game tonight and their mistakes cost them, but they will bounce back on Friday at home with a great response because they have done that all season long.
It was interesting that this game had zero fights or any skirmishes behind the play after the game last week which had the dueling fights.
Game Recap:
After a 7-4 comeback win on Monday night at home against Detroit, the Wild were entering Winnipeg on a hot streak. Matt Boldy secured his first career hat-trick in the game on Monday and has 14 points in 13 games played.
The Wild will want revenge for their 2-0 loss to the Jets only eight days ago. That game had several fights and fireworks, but if the Wild wanted to win tonight they would need to be more level-headed and play their game. It would be harder to say than do in a rival game like these encounters are becoming.
After a poor start to the game from the Wild that was dominated by the Jets, Minnesota got on the board first. Eriksson Ek got his 15th goal of the season off a crazy redirect that went in off his foot.
The Wild are 18-2-1 on the season when scoring first, it is the third-best points percentage in the NHL with .881 percent.
The Wild were able to weather the early storm from Winnipeg. After the first TV timeout, the first period was all the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild went into the second period with the lead, 1-0, and had a 15-10 shots on goal advantage.
Minnesota needed to continue to play their game in the second period to gain separation.
The second period started slow, neither team seemed to get the clue that intermission was over.
About eight minutes into the period, the Wild found their feet again and were rewarded with a penalty.
Dubois was called for a penalty and the Wild had their first power-play opportunity of the game.
The Wild power-play, which has been red hot lately, was unsuccessful on the first attempt in Winnipeg. The Wild were unable to get much going.
Minnesota struggled for much of the period and with 8:40 left in the second period Wheeler set up Scheifele for the tying goal.
The Jets continued to have the better of the play during the second period.
Winnipeg was rewarded for their offensive zone pressure with their first power-play of the game with 1:47 left in the first period.
It was Scheifele who capitalized on the power-play for the Jets with 11 seconds left in the period. It was his second of the night and it put the Jets up 2-1 heading into the third period.
Minnesota paid the price for a lackluster period and Kaprizov, Fiala, and Boldy were invisible through the first two periods.
Minnesota needed to get their act together if they wanted to avoid a repeat of the game in Winnipeg last week which was an embarrassment.
Scheifele secured his hat-trick early into the third period, 3-1 Jets. It, unfortunately, was the first goal allowed by the Foligno-EK-Greenway (GREEF) line this season even though they had nothing to do with the goal.
Shortly after, Cole Perfetti scored to make it 4-1 for the Jets and the Wild were looking like a team adrift in no man's land.
Zuccarello scored a beautiful goal in the top corner from Kaprizov to get the Wild back in the game, 4-2. With 15:40 left in the game, the top line for Minnesota may have shown up too late.
The momentum had shifted in favor of Minnesota.
Then, Fiala made a horrible pass that led to a turnover and an eventual breakaway goal for Connor who made it 5-2.
It most likely put the icing on the cake for the Jets who played better than the Wild tonight.
Kulikov scored with three minutes left to give the Wild some hope, maybe, 5-3 Jets.
The Wild lost 6-3 after Stastny picked up the empty-net goal.
What's Next:
The Wild play the Florida Panthers on Friday at home. the Wild have one regulation loss this season to an eastern conference opponent and that loss was to the Panthers back in Florida in November. It was a close-fought game and we can expect to see the same tight battle on Friday.
The Wild will be desperate to have a good response after the lackluster performance against Winnipeg.
The Wild have a record of 30-12-3, second in the Central with 63 points.
The Panthers have a record of 32-10-5. second in the Atlantic with 69 points.
Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. puck-drop at 7:00 p. m. central time
Check our Social Media to stay up to date!
Subscribe to the email list for free to stay up to date!
Did you enjoy the Article? Let me know your thoughts!
(a profile is required to comment and they are free and easy to make. A profile is not required to subscribe or to like or share!)
Comments