Game 2 Beyond the BoxScore

As we get ready for game 3, look back at how game 2 was decided

Col goal 1
Hill plays it up the near side and Fedoruk was quickly met and couldn’t do much with the puck. Forsberg picked it up at center ice and brought the puck in 2-on-2. It’s a great individual play by Forsberg but if you’re the Wild, Sean Hill did something you should never do as a defenseman and that’s go for a wild sweep check, which if you miss takes you off balance. Demitra was back checking and with Forsberg coming back across the middle, he could have poked the puck away or at least pressured Forsberg more than just watching him. It was another example of Demitra not completely working hard on the back check. With a guy as talented as Forsberg, if you’re a forward and you have a chance to double-team him and put extra prussure on him, it’s a must, otherwise the puck ends up in the back of your net.

MN goal 1
With Rolston taking the faceoff the puck squirted to the net and it was pushed out to the point by Colorado’s Kurt Sauer. Pavol Demitra let the slapshot fly and divinely found a couple of spare inches below the crossbar and inside the right post.

Faceoffs inside the offensive zone can be great ways for teams that are struggling to score against good defense create a quick offensive scoring chance before the defense gets the opportunity to react.

MN Goal 2
It was the first time Minnesota led the whole series and Koivu capitalized on a rare Colorado turnover. It wasn’t an amazing shot because of placement but because of how quickly he decided to let it rip.

Colorado Goal 2
It’s difficult to throw a lot of blame out there on the Wild for this goal. It’s tough to defend when a desperate team has a 6-on-4 advantage and can throw that much traffic in front of the net.

Johnsson got called for a penalty that probably should not have been called and it was actually a great play by Johnnson keeping the lead in tact at the time.

MN OT Goal
This was a lucky bounce yes, but also the result of just getting after it. The Wild had the Avs running around in their own end and Carney, who was having an outstanding night before the goal went in, capped it off with a game-winner. It wasn’t just the OT winner that Carney did well in this game. Big improvement from game 1.

Good signs for Gaborik
He didn’t show up in the box score, but there was a difference in game 2 that was nice to see. In game 1 Gaborik too often was looking to pass before he even moved his feet. In tight checking games he prefers to have others carry the puck into the offensive zone, but there were a few times that he decided to let his feet just take off, and force the defense to react. If he can’t get open enough to score in this series, he ought work hard enough to draw penalties.

Lemaire
I believe that it was a smart move in games 1 and 2 to play Boogaard since the crowd gets so much energy every time he hits the ice. I also would think it’s wise to sit him on the road and turn to Simon who might be able to finish on some of the offensive chances Boogaard has had.