Wild at Avalanche

After an up and down season, The Minnesota Wild look to surprise with a fast paced aggressive style.

July 4th, 2012, Chuck Fletcher and Mike Yeo stand united at a press podium like proud parents announcing the blockbuster acquisition of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise. The acquisition, a promise to The State of Hockey that tomorrow will be better. Parise, in "Lebron like" fashion convinced Suter that Minnesota was the place he wanted to be (cue Minnesota fans planning a cup parade).

April 3rd, 2013, Fletcher makes a move to pick up Jason Pomminville from the Buffalo Sabres, their captian in fact. Pomminville gave the team a powerful shot from the point and undeniable leadership on and off the ice.

After a year cut short in the first round of the 2013 playoffs by the (eventual) Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, Fletcher added a few more pieces to the puzzle. Matt Cooke, Keith Ballard, and Nino Niederreiter were upgrades at their respective positions. These additions came with a possesional game plan from Mike Yeo that promised more exciting hockey.

The 2013 - 2014 season, in typical hockey fashion, has not gone according to plan. The Wild went through 3 goalies before the trade deadline, forcing a move at the deadline. Brilliance was shown from all of the goalies at one point in the season. Parise, Coyle, Koivu, and Ballard all sustained injuries keeping them out for longer than 10 games. The injuries did however result in a silver lining, Erik Haula got a chance to show us some of that gopher magic. He did not disappoint. Haula finished his first (partial) season as a professional with 17 points and a plus 14 rating.

Trade deadline week 2014, Fletcher adds two new pieces to the team. A battle tested goaltender, Ilya Bryzgolov and a big body grinder, Matt Moulson. Unfortunately these additions coincided with the longest losing streak of the season for the Wild. A streak that forced the leaders on the team to step up. On one of the four CBA mandatory days off, Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, and Ryan Suter got the team together for some reflection on their play. The team reportedly agreed that their play was poor of late, made plans to change it, and implemented the changes in a practice that day.

After the infamous "players only" meeting, the team had changed. The were more physical, harder on the puck, and forechecked like we hadn't seen all year. The quick change cemented a playoff spot for the second straight year.

The first four games of this series have arguably been dominated by the Wild. The only stat that the Avalanche lead in the series in goal differential. The wild have dominated on special teams, controlled the physical game, and out shot the Avs 143 to 94 through the first 4 games.

The most impressive part of this series has been the coaching of Mike Yeo. The Wild lost a heartbreaker in game one that was surrounded in controversial calls and non calls. Despite the controversy and heart break, The Wild continued to play their game. They pressured the puck, created opportunities, and played hard from horn to horn. With a never say never attitude The Wild took it to another level. Yeo made necessary adjustments that shut down the Avs scoring lines and held them to just 34 shots in 2 games at the Xcel Energy Center.

All these pieces, all these events, they all add up to a different team. The Wild are not what they were a year ago. They aren't what they were a month ago. This team has been down, they have picked themselves up and have shown us what champions are made of. This team is poised and ready. This team fights for what they deserve, they don't expect it.

The Minnesota Wild play like they have something to lose. They play like they belong at the top. Do not write this team off. This team has grown together into something special. This team, regardless of where they finish this year, is full of champions.