Jump to content

  • Join us — it's free!

    We are the premiere internet community for New York Rangers news and fan discussion. Don't wait — join the forum today!

IGNORED

2022-23 WCQF: Stars vs. Wild

Phil

By Phil
in Hockey Around the Globe

 Share

Who wins?  

14 members have voted

  1. 1. Well?

    • Stars in 4
      0
    • Stars in 5
      2
    • Stars in 6
      3
    • Stars in 7
      5
    • Wild in 4
      0
    • Wild in 5
      0
    • Wild in 6
      3
    • Wild in 7
      2

Recommended Posts

Phil BSBH Legend

Phil

Posted
Posted

BSBH Game Day Thread Logo

(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild

Mon., April 17: Wild at Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2

Wed., April 19: Wild at Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, SN360, TVAS

Fri., April 21: Stars at Wild, 9:30 p.m. ET, TBS, SN1, TVAS

Sun., April 23: Stars at Wild, 6:30 p.m. ET, TBS, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS

Tue., April 25: Wild at Stars, TBA

Fri., April 28: Stars at Wild, TBA

Sun., April 30: Wild at Stars, TBA

REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS:

Stars: 47-21-14, 108 points

Wild: 46-25-11, 103 points

SEASON SERIES:

DAL 2-0-2; MIN 2-2-0

 

GAME BREAKERS:

Stars: It was another great season for forward Jason Robertson, who led Dallas in scoring and set NHL career highs in goals (46), assists (63) and points (109). The 23-year-old also led the Stars with 41 power-play points (13 goals, 28 assists) and tied for the team lead (with forwards Joe Pavelski and Jamie Benn) with 13 power-play goals. This is the second full season Robertson has been on the top line with Pavelski and Roope Hintz, and it has worked well for all involved, especially Robertson. 

 

Wild: Kirill Kaprizov missed a month because of a lower-body injury, returning to play two games in the final week of the regular season, and still was Minnesota's leading scorer. The forward's numbers were down from last season, when he had an NHL career-high 108 points (47 goals, 61 assists) in 81 games, but he was nevertheless as effective as ever with 75 points (40 goals, 35 assists) in 67 games. Kaprizov, who will turn 26 on April 26, always poses a threat to opponents, especially at crucial times of the game. He scored six game-winning goals this season, tied with forward Ryan Hartman for the Wild lead.

 

GOALTENDING:

Stars: Jake Oettinger carried the bulk of the load this season and will have the net in the playoffs. The 24-year-old was 37-11-11 with a 2.37 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 62 games (61 starts). He had five shutouts, tied for second in the NHL with Alexandar Georgiev of the Colorado Avalanche and Darcy Kuemper of the Washington Capitals. 

 

Wild: Marc-Andre Fleury was 24-16-4 with a 2.85 GAA, .908 save percentage and two shutouts in 46 games (45 starts) this season, and Filip Gustavsson was 22-9-7 with a 2.10 GAA, .931 save percentage and three shutouts. Evason credited Fleury for being a good mentor for Gustavsson, who has excelled in his first season with Minnesota after being acquired from the Ottawa Senators in a trade for goalie Cam Talbot on July 12. A good 1-2 punch here. 

 

X FACTORS:

Stars: Wyatt Johnston has looked like he belongs during his rookie season with Dallas. The 19-year-old center finished with 41 points (24 goals, 17 assists), including three game-winning goals. He has formed great chemistry on a line with captain Benn, who had 78 points (33 goals, 45 assists), his most since he had 79 points in 2017-18.  

 

Wild: Matt Boldy came through with a strong second NHL season. The 22-year-old forward had 63 points (31 goals, 32 assists), third on Minnesota behind Kaprizov and forward Mats Zuccarello (67 points; 22 goals, 45 assists). Boldy was one of those who notably stepped up when Kaprizov was out and had two hat tricks in a five-game span from March 19-27.

 

WILL WIN IF:

Stars: They continue to get offense. This has been an issue for Dallas in recent postseasons; the goaltending is there to save the day but the offensive support isn't. The Stars were more productive under coach Peter DeBoer this season, and if they can bring that into the playoffs, they'll be in good shape. 

 

Wild: They keep the balanced attack going. Minnesota was 7-2-3 with Kaprizov out, getting contributions from their top forwards, including Boldy, Zuccarello and Hartman. They need to keep that going now that Kaprizov is back and healthy. 

 

MORE:

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Phil pinned this topic
Kevin BSBH Champion

Kevin

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, Phil said:

I feel like this is a classic seven game war of attrition. Both teams are so well built. Going Stars (home ice) in seven.

Same.  Although is Kaprizov goes off, the Wild can definitely pull this one off.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fletch BSBH Hall-of-Famer

fletch

Posted
Posted

I generally am patient with coaches.  But if Stars bounce Wild in round 1, they may have to look at getting a new coach in Minnesota.  Dean Evason was promoted from being an assistant coach with the Wild. As head coach

2019-2020 lost in qualifying round

2020-2021 lost in first round

2021-2022 lost in first round

 

This would be the fourth straight year the Wild have been bounced in the first round of the playoffs.  He has never won a playoff round as a head coach in the NHL.

https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=1604

In his previous stint as head coach in the minors: 6 years as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals, his team missed the playoffs in 2 years, and they lost in the first round in 4 years.

 

Kaprizov and Zuc are a great combo but Zuc is 35 years old, so window for him is closing.  You could argue that with the GM didn't provide a roster that could make a deep run in the playoffs, but at some point you have to try something different.  Usually that means a new coach.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Phil unpinned this topic

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing


×
×
  • Create New...