The Minnesota Wild Are Off and Running

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The Viking Age

If you would have told me through nine games Thomas Vanek and the Wild’s power play would have no goals, I would have thought we were in trouble. But for every part of the Wild’s game that is struggling, there’s two more parts stepping up. Vanek, acquired via free agency this off-season, has been handing goals to his teammates left and right and making them look easy.

In the most recent victory against the Sharks, Vanek found new linemate Kyle Brodziak on two perfectly placed tape to tape passes leading to goals. “He’s an incredible passer,” Brodziak said. “He’s got great vision and he sees the ice very well. I pretty much knew both of those ones were going to be on my tape.”

Forward Jason Pominville agreed, ‘Typical Van.”

Now if only the power play could get going. The Minnesota Wild’s man advantage is an astonishing 0-27 on the year. Thankfully, the Wild’s even strength play has made up for it.

However, if the Wild want to be a true cup contender in the West, they’ll have to break this spell. Whether it be a tic-tac-toe thing of beauty or dirty working the

“I think it’s going to be an ugly goal. It’s got to be an ugly goal for us to get it going.”

crease, they just need that first puck to find twine. “Just can’t get it to go,” said Wild defenseman Ryan Suter. “I think it’s going to be an ugly goal. It’s got to be an ugly goal for us to get it going.”

All that aside, Minnesota’s last two games have been confidence-building comeback victories against the Bruins and Sharks in the third period. Victories like these can put a team on a confidence high for weeks on end.

As for the coming games, the Wild just need to stay the course. At 6-3 on the season, they’ve outshot every single team they have played this year. That helps. Also, goaltender Darcy Kuemper has been solid outside of the five goal collapse in the third period against the Rangers.

Our favorite four line juggernaut plays Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center, where absolutely no one but the Wild wants to play as of late. At home, the Wild average 36.25 shots to their opponents 22.5. If the power play starts producing goals, this team will be firing on all cylinders.

Also, check out Mikko Koivu’s nasty shootout goal from last night. It’s his trademarked forehand-backhand move that every goaltender knows is coming. Now that’s what you call top-shelf.