tOFFICIAL PLAYOFF PUSH THREAD!

[Win TWINS!!!]

Too much negativity in the last thread and no new comments in it since December.


So here we are 5 points out of the 8th and final spot in the West. They started their push a little later than last year, but they finally got healthy just before the AS break.... and they've gone 6-1-1 since acquiring DOOOOOOBNYK! Seriously, the kid has been lights out since his acquisition with 3 shutouts. Kind of reminds me of last year when they brought up Kuemper. It was just a change in the lockerroom atmosphere, a newfound confidence, if you will.

BUT

I really believe that it can be attributed to the WILD getting their top 4 defensemen back on the ice again. I mean, they haven't had the best of luck this year in terms of health - mumps and regular injuries.

Maybe they waited a week or two, too long in looking for goaltending help - but maybe no one was available yet. Who knows? I still think it comes down to being healthy again. I know some of you aren't a fan of Yeo's constant tinkering with the lines and such, but he's had to do it more out of necessity than anything. We've seen what this team is capable of when everyone is there... and I really don't think there's questioning that Yeo's system works when everything is firing. Look at last season (another season in which he had to tinker with the lines do to injuries more than anything) through the first few weeks of this season.

Going forward? I still think they should look to add another defenseman before the deadline. We've seen what happens to this team when 1 of the 4 is missing in the lineup. It would be more of a safety net than anything.

I think they can stand pat on offense, and hope that maybe Haula can get back some of his mojo that he brought into the playoffs last year.

I don't know... these are just my 2 cents. What say you?

 

[IndyAndy]

I think that the pieces are there - and that's it's probably too late to bring in someone new at this point anyways.

It's going to be a nail-biter of a push, for which I give them about 50/50 odds of making it to the post season.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

Great win last night against the Canucks. Unfortunate in losing Zucker and Carter, though.

Tough game tonight. Expect Kuemper to get the nod, even though he was scratched last night. Keep it going!

 

[mr.hockey4242]

I still want to say we make the playoffs. This team is too talented not to. The only two things working against us are 1. a tough schedule and 2. its so goddamn hard to make up ground in hockey.


Tonight is actually the biggest one. The Jets are 6 pts up on us but 3 games in hand so winning all 3 extra games ties us with them. But, win tonight and we are 4 back with still 3 games in hand. Really big game.


Personally I would still ride Dubynk but I really think they will go Keumper and it's tough to argue with a back to back and still games to come every other day for the next week+

 

[mr.hockey4242]

And of course we get hot. And the crushing injuries come again. What the fuck.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

And of course we get hot. And the crushing injuries come again. What the fuck.

Just the 2 forwards, unless I'm missing something. Hopefully neither is for more than a week.

 

[packfancjh]

Zucker with a broken clavicle out 3 months and Carter is out at least a month. Ouch

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

Zucker with a broken clavicle out 3 months and Carter is out at least a month. Ouch

Just heard that on the way home.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Also don't forget Cooke who we already knew about. 2 things make those injuries HUGE


1. Forget about Zuckers 18 goals(obviously we miss that) but Carter and Cooke are bottom line vets who know their roles and compete. Haula and Fontaine are lost and Sutter just isn't good. Big difference.


2. As we saw tonight it caused Yeo to go back to his stupid ass line tinkering again. Seriously did anyone play together for back to back shifts? Keep the lines together, consistency wins games. Find it odd an NHL coach doesn't get this.


Luckily we still have plenty of talent so stick with 4 lines and let em roll. Got two very winnable EC(finally) games coming up next at home. Gotta win them both, like our chances.

 

[packfancjh]

Hard fought loss last night but at least we got 1 point.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

I figure that if they're going to make it, they pretty much need to be no worse than 7th by the end of March. April's schedule is going to be pretty tough... finishing with 3 games on the road.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

Regardless, I did my part and picked up a suite for the Capitals and Flames.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

A positive is those final 3 road games may be against teams clinched and nothing to play for.

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

If all things go right, Wild could be in the 8th spot by the end of the weekend... Just hope that Calgary/Vancouver doesn't turn into a 3 point contest tomorrow night.



DOOOOOOBNYK!

 

[mr.hockey4242]

Pretty big night last night.


First and foremost, we won. Another stellar game from the Dooooooobs.


Jets lost. Now 5 back with 3 in hand.


Avs lost. We really shouldn't be too worried about them anymore, if they catch us we probably ain't in hunt...but still big.


Kings beat Flames IN REGULATION. I preferred a Kings win but the most important thing was the regulation win. They got it.


Saturday is a game we gotta win

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

No help from Boston last night.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

This loaded conference is starting to piss me off. No one fucking loses unless they play each other and in that case it usually goes to OT/SO.


SMH

 

[Win TWINS!!!]

No help last night. Made no ground over the weekend.... Tomorrow night's game is vital. Not sure if Dubnyk struggled in the 2nd, or if that embellishment call messed with the entire team's game for a bit... but it makes me wonder if he'll be getting a rest any time soon.

 

[Winnipegger]

If it makes you guys feel any better, The Wild are the one team on the outside looking in that scares the shit out of me. More so than LA and the rest of the Pacific posers.

 

[mr.hockey4242]

No help last night. Made no ground over the weekend.... Tomorrow night's game is vital. Not sure if Dubnyk struggled in the 2nd, or if that embellishment call messed with the entire team's game for a bit... but it makes me wonder if he'll be getting a rest any time soon.

It was nice knowing that when Doobs may have finally been "off" we put up 6 goals. That's big.

But you're right. It's getting ridiculous how no one is losing unless they play each other. Insane that we have a 10 game pt streak and are still 2 pts out.

Tomorrow is crucial. A series sweep of Vancouver would be excellent.