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Wild End Trip In Exciting Fashion |
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Last night's game in St Louis had a little of everything...
The typically stingy Wild PK allowing three goals on the first three Blues powerplays, three goals allowed in the first period and five yet again in the game. Heated battles and the blowup of Jordan Binnington that almost delivered us the rare goalie fight. Come from behind Wild attack, a flurry of goals and Ryan Reaves scoring again and dishing another nice assist for back to back multiple point games.
All in all eight Wild goals with five of those coming in the second period. It added up to the Wild's franchise record 14th straight game earning at least a point in the standings and ending their four game road trip 3-0-1.
17 goals in the three games played without #97 in the Wild lineup wow!
No one expected that, but...
Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, the opponents were all non-playoff teams and let's not overlook the fact they have also given up 12 goals in those three games as well. So there are several factors at play. Guys of course stepping up in the absence of Kirill, the law of averages comes into play as well, and to generate more offense it is very difficult to shut down the opposition to one or no goals.
Either way that new found offensive upturn will be tested in the coming games as the Bruins and Capitals visit the XCEL Energy Center this weekend and their are tough road games coming up in New Jersey and Colorado before the end of the March.
The Wild goaltending has been spectacular and the penalty kill as well but both have struggled in particular these last two games. That too becomes a byproduct of the laws of average as well as a team that has opened it up offensively to account for better scoring chances up and down the lineup.
Throw in the fact that Jonas Brodin has been out of the lineup, arguably their best defenseman, then Jake Middleton missed last night's game along with Marcus Foligno and it changes the complexion of the Wild's identity.
All signs point to this team learning and maturing into a better version of themselves as they head into the final stretch of the season and into the playoffs. The Wild season will be judged solely on how far they go in the Spring.
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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