Wild searching for options, answers, after two games of deficient defense

· Yahoo Sports

There is not much about the Wild’s defense that is praise-worthy after allowing 14 goals — two of them empty-netters — in a pair of losses to open their second-round series with Colorado.

Visit betsport.cv for more information.

The loss of veteran Jonas Brodin to an injury, and the on-ice struggles of veterans Jared Spurgeon and Jake Middleton during the two games in Denver have been costly. It’s all left the Minnesota coaches looking for options and answers during the rare three-day break before Game 3 on Saturday night in St. Paul.

While members of the Wild skated on Thursday morning at TRIA Rink, coach John Hynes did not have an updated timeline on Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek returning but said he is always optimistic. Brodin and Eriksson Ek haven’t skated since their injuries, suffered late in Round 1 with Dallas.

“But that wouldn’t determine whether they play or not,” Hynes said.

Of the 14 goals allowed in 120 minutes of hockey so far in this series, Spurgeon has been on the ice for eight of them, and Middleton for nine. Following the 5-2 loss in Game 2, Spurgeon — the Wild captain — said a key was maintaining optimism that they’re not far off.

“We all care in here, but we can’t let that get to you. You got to go about it the right way,” he said. “The way we play the game, we just see when we’re playing 5-on-5, that we’re getting our looks, and we’re getting some zone time that we sustain and putting them under pressure. So, we got to keep (frustration) out of here.”

The Wild were also missing veteran Zach Bogosian on the back end on Tuesday in Colorado, as he continues to battle the lower-body injury that caused the 35-year-old to miss half of the regular season. In his stead, Hynes has inserted Daemon Hunt into the lineup for the first two games of the Colorado series, and has liked what Hunt has offered so far.

“I think his skating has been a factor. He’s an excellent skating defenseman,” Hynes said of Hunt, who played 32 regular season games, recording six assists. “His ability to handle a line rush, he’s hard to close plays, he’s strong at the net front. And from an offensive perspective, he’s the guy that he has the ability to join the rush and support the rush because of his skating.”

The Wild’s top defensive pair of Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes is set in stone. But the defensive mess they collectively left behind in Colorado might mean that Hynes is open to juggling the bottom four prior to Game 3. Hunt said he’s willing to play with anyone in any situation.

“I think that’s a coaching decision, but, I mean, I’m kind of up for whatever,” Hunt said on Thursday. “I think me and Spurgey have been good together when we play together, but I mean, it’s not up to me. I think whoever I’m paired with is good.”

As for his quick adaptation to playoff hockey, versus a historically strong team like Colorado, Hunt actually emerged from the two losses with a plus-2 statistically, and felt like he made some strides from Game 1 to Game 2.

“Definitely getting thrown into the fire a bit, but I think with my skating, the way I think the game, I think I did fine,” he said. “I think as the second game progressed, I thought I got better. Just moving my feet more, getting in the rush more.”

Briefly

While they are expecting a sellout inside Grand Casino Arena for Game 3 on Saturday night, the Wild will also host a free watch party outside the arena, where fans can gather and watch the game on big screen video. The event will be held on West 7th Street between West Kellogg Boulevard and West 5th Street, directly adjacent to Gates 2 and 3 outside the arena.

It begins at 5 p.m. and ends with the conclusion of the game. Pregame entertainment and on-site food and beverages will be available. Additional details are available at the Wild website.

With that portion of W 7th Street closed, along with other closures on Shepard Road and Jackson Street, fans attending the game or the watch party are encouraged to arrive early and account for changing routes.

Related Articles

Read full story at source