Tonight the Wild make the trip all the way to the west coast of Canada to face off with the Vancouver Canucks for the second time this season. In their last meeting Vancouver traveled to the X and got absolutely “Waffle Stomped” (quoted from Adam Dubois) up and down the ice winning 6-2. The Wild controlled the whole game with physical play throwing off the game of the Canucks and their twin threats, the Sedins. Although they went to the box 6 times to Vancouver’s 3 the Wild scored on all 3 power plays where as Vancouver scored only once on the PP in the last 3 minutes.
To add insult to….a big loss, Ryan Rypien was given a 10 minute misconuct and on his way off the ice into the locker room he reached over and grabbed a fan. Ryan was given a 6 game suspension today from the incident while the fan has reached out to legal council in this matter. This is sure to be a big story going into this game and possibly bring back the Vancouver Minnesota rivalry.
My take on it, Rypien was in the wrong and does deserve to get suspended I thought anywhere from 8-10 games, but looking into it more the 6 games that he was dealt is fine with me being a Wild fan. Now the guy that he grabbed at first I felt somewhat bad for but I really can’t anymore. Yes, if it was me I would get a lawyer too and so would everyone out there if in “his” position. But after hearing him and his brother the last couple days on local radio in MN he is sounding like a whining baby when nothing physical was really done to him. Take it or leave it that is MY take.
Coming into this game the Canucks have won 4 straight at home vs. the Wild. The big key to them winning is that the Sedins need to get going early and often. So far this season D. Sedin is leading the team with 10 points (7 goals, 3 assists) and brother H. Sedin is just one point back with 9 (9 assists). Vancouver has a 2.14 GG and a 2.57 GAA. Their penalty kill is at 80% and have only given up one goal shorthanded this season at home going 14-15.
There X-factor going into this game is going to be Cory Schneider. The Wild have not seen much of him and so far this season he is 1-0-0 in 4 periods of play with a 0.75 GAA and .974 SV%. He was put into the game after Luongo was pulled going into the third period at the X and did a great job stopping the Wild from doing more damage. If he can continue this pace the Canucks could have one of the best goal tending tandems in the NHL as long as Luongo can get back on pace.
The Wild last year were 7-8 last year in back to back road games. They were able to win last night in Edmonton though going to the box 10 times. The Wild will need to be more aware of what is going on and stay out of penalty trouble yet keep the physical play going. This season they are 44.4% on the PP (1st in league), have a 3.33 GG (3rd in league), have a 2.33 GAA (7th in League), are perfect when leading after 2 periods, and have not given up more than 2 goals since their season opener to Carolina. Matt Cullen is coming into this game on fire. Seeming like he never gets a break (playing on the PP, PK, and centering the 2nd line) he is leading the team in point so far with 9 (2 goals, 5 assists).
The X-factor for the Wild is Jose Theodore. Getting the nod and starting his first game of the season Theodore is 19-0-2 in his last 22 starts with a 2.55 GAA. Now I’m going to throw some stats at you and take them how you want because they are coming from both sides of the puck. In Vancouver Theodore is 5-7-2 with a 3.34 GAA and .882 SV%, while 3-1-0 in last 4 in Vancouver with a 2.23 GAA and .914 SA%, and 5-1-0 with 2.15 GAA in last six starts vs. Vancouver.
Either way this is a big game for both teams. The Wild need to be a solid team on the road this year, if they expect to make a solid run at the playoffs and gain some credibility, while the Canucks are just looking to get back on track.
Thanks for reading; I am always looking for feedback. Follow me on twitter at @josh_sargent.
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