1/17 @Washington (23-16-6) Win 4-2
The Wild opened the week against the Capitals and came away with a victory. Spurgeon scored twice and Gustavsson stopped 34 of 36 shots. Gustavsson seems to me to have earned the number 1 goalie spot on the team. He is 11-6-1 with a 2.16 GAA so far on the season. When the team plays like this they can go toe to toe. The downside is when the other Wild team shows up.
1/19 @Carolina (27-9-7) loss 5-2
And then the other Wild team showed up against Carolina. The Wild lost 5-2 to the Carolina team. Fleury started in the net. The Wild committed 8 penalties and the offense couldn’t get enough going. Minnesota had won three straight games and earned at least a point in six straight road games, but those streaks ended with Carolina pushing ahead in the second period and then scoring twice early in the third to take a 5-1 lead. Kaprizov’s second-period score marked the 100th of his career.
1/21 @Florida (20-20-4) Loss 5-3
In a game at the beginning of the week, I thought the Wild would win, but the bad Wild team showed up and lost the game. The Wild lost 5-3 and have lost 2 in a row. Gustavsson started and allowed 4 goals on 26 shots. The defense let the Wild down tonight. Dumba was scratched again as the trade deadline gets closer and closer. Coach has said it is due to his on-ice performance.
Next week’s games:
– 1/24 @ TB (29-15-1)
– 1/26 vs PHI (20-20-7)
– 1/28 vs BUF (23-19-3)
Phil K