The Minnesota Wild hosted the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday evening, Mar. 25, for the final time during the regular season. The Golden Knights won the first two meetings, and after the Wild fell to the Dallas Stars the night prior, Monday, Mar. 24, they looked to get back in the win column. They were without Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Marcus Foligno, but they added Declan Chisholm. They did have Jonas Brodin back, who missed their game against the Stars the night prior.
Marc-André Fleury was back in net after Filip Gustavsson had the previous seven starts. The Golden Knights got things started and the Wild had to fight back from the middle of the first period, on. They did get a goal in the third to get within one goal but they couldn’t maintain and fell 5-1. In this article we’ll look at what the problems were starting with their energy.
Wild Lacked Energy to Start
It was the second half of a back-to-back for the Wild and it was clear they weren’t fully recovered from traveling to Dallas and coming back. They didn’t have any jump in their step, and although they had a few chances, they didn’t bounce on them as they should. They also lacked their usual level of communication, which meant missed passes and players running into each other.
When they tried to make up for their lack of energy, they ended up out of position and left themselves vulnerable. When they couldn’t move their feet, they reached with their sticks, and that caused mistakes. They struggled to maintain speed in the first two periods and were often chasing the puck. However, when head coach John Hynes noticed the team needed something done, he changed up the lines, and that did create a spark. They did have some momentum in the third, but it was too little too late.
“We’re competing and sometimes that’s just not enough to win hockey games. It’s that time of year, it’s just on to the next one,” said Brock Faber about how the game went, he continued about Jack Eichel’s efforts, “He’s a superstar in this league for a reason, shows up every night, he’s hard to play against.”
Wild Still Lacking Net Front Consistently
The Wild have found ways to score in front of the net, but they haven’t been able to find a way to have a forward there night in and night out. It seems only a few plays a game, and then they stay on the perimeter but lack shots. They need more players willing to drive the net and force shots. Matt Boldy had a great opportunity, and although the goaltender saved it, he made it through to the net. The Wild need more efforts like that from everyone in the lineup.
“Today, to be honest with you, we plain and simple lose to a better team. The way they play, make plays, always four/five guys in the rush, seems like they always have time. They’re playing I would say a supportive way where they’re always having the guy open, they always have guys coming with speed and when today I don’t know when you play little ‘chuck and go’ game like we did, one guy with speed forechecking three guys it’s hard to play against good teams like that and I mean you gotta give them credit, they played good, solid hockey and on a night like this they win fair and square…,” said Mats Zuccarello about how the Golden Knights played solid.
Wild Continue To Battle
Unfortunately for the Wild, they did find a way to battle, but it ended up being too late. Marcus Johansson got his team on the board with a strong shot to get them back within one. Following that goal, it was clear the momentum swung the Wild’s direction, and they had more energy. But then they had a goal waved off due to a high stick, and then a penalty called that led to a goal, and the momentum was suddenly gone.
The first two periods weren’t the strongest efforts for the Wild, but there were small bouts where they did battle. Several players stood out, like Frédérick Gaudreau, Johansson, and Yakov Trenin. Normally, these players are more behind-the-scenes guys. Gaudreau and Johansson will add some points, but they typically work away from the puck, and that was clear against the Golden Knights.
Related: 3 Takeaways From the Wild’s Win Over the Sabres
“It’s not always as bad as it seems, tonight if you look at, it’s 5-1 but I thought we were in it until the end there. We just gotta keep runnin, keep playing tight, keep playing hard, keep having many of those low score games, that’s what’s needed and find a way to keep the puck out of our net and try to get one more than them,” said Fleury about how the score wasn’t equal to the play on the ice.
Wild Remain Home
The Wild have two more home games to turn things around before it becomes even scarier for the playoff race. However, they won’t be easy games. Their next opponent will be the Washington Capitals on Thursday, Mar. 27, and they’ll have to be ready. Hopefully, these two losses will clear their systems, and they can find ways to get back on the winning track.
