10/13- Wild vs Rangers:
7-3 Rangers win
In the opening game of the season for the Minnesota Wild, fans had high hopes after last season. The Wild played well last year and made a late-season trade for Marc-Andre Fleury to give us that little extra playoff experience. This off-season we decided to keep Flower over Talbot. The home opener this season is only the 2nd time in Wild History that they lost the home opener at the X. Fleury allowed 7 goals in the first game, but the defense was non-existent. The defense seemed to be chasing the Rangers around and wasn’t able to get their sticks in the right places at the right time. The offense was able to generate something as they scored 3 goals, 2 of which were scored by Matt Boldy. This is a younger team and there may be some growing pains this year.
10/15- Wild vs Kings:
7-6 Kings win
The second home game of the season for the Wild was against the LA Kings. Fleury played the first period and gave up 4 goals, he was pulled after that. 3 of those 4 goals I would put on the defense not being in position. The last one he should have saved and didn’t. Gustavsson came in and didn’t do a lot better, he allowed 3 goals. Again not all on the goalies as the defense didn’t play great. Some of those goals they are going to have to turn into saves if we plan to win games this year. We can’t keep letting up 7 goals a game and expect to win. The offense showed up this game scoring 6 goals and at one point had it tied up. Zuccarello leads the Wild in scoring this game with 3 points (1G, 2A). The Wild PK went 4-6(allowed 2 goals), and PP went 3-6.
For the first week of the season, the big key for the Wild was terrible defensive play. Hopefully moving forward they figure out the defensive struggle and get some help for their net minders. We can see that the offense can score goals and keep them in games we just need the defense to hold up their end. Wild ended the week 0-2 on the season and have 3 games next week.
Phil Kujawa