The Wild pretty much can't finish above 4th in the central, 7th in the West, and is in the process of garnering some breathing room over 9th place. A win tonight is big because they don't play again until Saturday. Kuemper has been so good the Wild simply didn't need to give up assets to get Miller (not that he'd have chosen Minny over STL, but you get my point). But a backup would be good. Harding is, sadly, all but done - they just haven't announced it. The question for him is whether he's done for the season, or forever. Really sad for him if this is the end of the line. Backstrom has been both injured and godawful for the balance of the season. Fletcher may be both a buyer (backup) and a seller (Backstrom) of goalies right now.
Koivu comes back tonight, but separated from Parise (about time) and on the second line (thank God), at least to start. I'm in the camp that says Koivu's over-rated. The other side likes to tell me I'm an idiot because he does so many little things well. Trouble is, when he's glued to the first line, we need him to also do the big things (read: score) well. And he doesn't. Countless players have been tried on his wings on the top line, and none have worked. What's the constant? Koivu. I think he's a terrific 2nd line center, and a reach on the top line. Tonight we see if I'm right or not.
What allows Yeo to move Koivu to the second line is how well Granlund (ours) is playing, and the chemistry he's had with Pominville for most of the season.
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