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Wild Look To Tighten Up The D Zone |
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Two games into the Wild season and it has begun similar to last season. If you recall the Wild gave up 20 goals in the first three games a year ago before getting the legs and game speed on track. Those were all losses for the Wild so the big difference is the Wild won game one this season.
Is it something that needs to be addressed with the way the team prepares for the season? Or is this a bigger issue that the Wild defense is not good enough to compete with the league's faster teams?
I believe it to be a little of both, with the big question mark how do the Wild deal with injuries on the blueline?
Brock Faber has stepped in and played very well, but remember he was key last season in the playoffs in a lineup that included Matt Dumba and John Klingberg. Both of those guys are gone and Alex Goligoski and Calen Addison are in their places.
It is not a simple as Faber replacing Dumba and this is magnified with Jared Spurgeon's absence.
Dean Evason is mixing up his defense pairs slotting Addison alongside Jonas Brodin and Faber with Jake Middleton and Jon Merrill with Goligoski.
The good news is the Wild got two points in the opener despite being outplayed for most of the game. Filip Gustavsson stole that one for the Wild. Game two saw some positive play but in the end the Wild lost the track meet in Toronto.
Evason gets his team to buy in and it will take a total commitment from the forward group to set the tone. There are a lot of positives to take from the first two games as well
Marco Rossi has looked very good. The top line is clicking, Brodin and Faber are both flying and Gustavsson has for the most part been solid despite the onslaught of shots he has faces.
Montreal will present a different test as they are not the best defensive club but they can skate and have some very dynamic young talent.
Matt Boldy will miss the game and is week to week with an upper body injury so more juggling to do with the top six.
Marc-Andre Fleury will get his first start of the season in the Wild cage.
It's always Hockey Day in The State of Hockey!
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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