Preview: The Wild, which defeated Anaheim on Saturday at home, plays for the second time in as many nights.
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On the other hand, Jets conference rivals Minnesota Wild (5-1-1) hold the third position in the standings and a total of 11 points. Get out to an early lead (something they have not been able to do all year), let the positive juices start flowing, and ride that to a pivotal road victory.
While rumors over Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau’s future with the team continue to escalate, Murray is looking at alternative options in the form of roster moves. “It’s something for us as coaches we rack our brains over”, Boudreau said. When you do have chances and you don’t score, it’s even magnified more. He’s a guy that sticks up for his players and someone you want to play for. “When things go bad you just have to shoot everything at the net and go to the net and hope one bounces off your butt or something”.
Already down 1-0 going into the second period, the Ducks were flat for the next 20 minutes.
For the length of a TV timeout before his infraction, Maroon shadowed Carter’s every stride, chirping at the Wild forward, perhaps trying to bait him into a bout. 931 marks over an 8-3-0 span against Anaheim since the start of 2013-14, including the postseason.
“They got frustrated and ended up taking penalties and that worked in our favor, too”, Carter said. That’s because their 5-3 win over Toronto featured 52 shots by the Maple Leafs, more than they’ve ever had in a visit to Montreal. LW Zach Parise has 30 points in 33 meetings, and LW Thomas Vanek has 28 points in 36 meetings. Right now I’m not, and it’s good to be out there not lagging my leg behind.
The reeling Ducks continued to struggle on Saturday, mustering little offense or effort in a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild, adding to the speculation that Boudreau will be replaced soon.
Coach Mike Yeo, the intense-but-composed mentor of the Wild, had walked the length of the bench to greet Carter with a fist bump of his own, a rare move from the bench boss. Koivu has recorded one point in six of the team’s first seven games.
Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk, left, falls as Anaheim Ducks Ryan Kesler skates by in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, October 24, 2014, in St. Paul, Minn.
After a slow start last season, Vanek has four goals in Minnesota’s first seven games.
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Vanek said he felt zero pressure coming back a year ago to where he starred in college, but he’s definitely more comfortable in his second season with the Wild. “You’re holding the stick so tight and you can’t make plays”. Saturday, he boosted it with 15 saves on 15 shots.
