Halifaxdrunk thank god you are just 2 hours down the road from me so i dont have to wait until 12-1ish to see this thread, but instead can have it at a reasonable time
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The Wild actually play pretty hard. Their issues last season were lack of balanced scoring and coaching that emphasized dump-ins and board grind. They've been trying to change these things this season.
I don't expect a boring game but I don't expect a win either. They're better than their record. Harding has been amazing this season and now they actually have another scoring line with Granlund and Pominville. Koivu and Parise will grind you to death and then the second line scores.
The Wild are still very much a boring team, hope I can stay awake for this one, think I've fallen asleep during the past two Flames/Wild games. Almost as boring as Phoenix.
Harding, meanwhile and despite having MS, is posting a .950 and 1.10 GAA over 11 games.
Good thing offence is our strong suit, we're going to need to pepper that guy with shots.
The Flames can certainly do it. Unfortunately I see the Flames as a team that is not strong on the boards or at faceoffs and I bet having stats like that is largely based on puck possession. Pretty sure Minnesota is one of the better faceoff teams. They're aggressive on the boards in the offensive zone and Suter-Brodin will control the game so long as they have the puck.
But if they can contest the puck and not give it away, they seem to have the offense. The Wild often get into ruts where they create chances and nothing goes in. Parise gets a lot of chances but he also needs tons of them score. Add to that a wildcard goalie in Berra.