GDT: 1/14/21 Game 1: Minnesota Wild @ Los Angeles Kings - 9 PM CT - FS-N

[Lapa]

​

The Wild opens its 20th season on Thursday night when it opens the 2020-21 regular season against the "division" rival Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center.
Minnesota and L.A. will share a division in hockey for the first time, going back even to the North Stars days. The arrangement is temporary, as COVID-19 has forced the creation of an All-Canadian division, which has shuffled teams in the United States as well.
The Wild and Blues are the only teams from the Central Time Zone to be in the new 'West' Division, joining normal Central Division opponent Colorado and Pacific teams Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Arizona and Vegas.
As division mates this season, the Wild and Kings will play eight times in all, including the first and second games of the season. The two clubs will get all of their meetings out of the way early; Minnesota and Los Angeles will play all eight of their contests by the end of February.

Goaltender Cam Talbot is expected to start for the Wild. Signed by Minnesota to a three-year contract last July 1, it will be Talbot's first start in a Wild uniform. He is 7-9-0 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 18 games (16 starts) in his career against the Kings.

Wild Warmup: Minnesota at Los Angeles



​

Click to read more...

 

[Lapa]

Really excited to see what Kaprizov (and Fiala) can do.

 

[Digitalbooya]

LET’S F***ING GO!

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

f*** the penguins

 

[EXTRAS]

Kahkonen is better.

 

[TaLoN]

Step 1 on the way to 56-0-0!

 

[P10p]

Kaprizov looked like a hound on the puck with his takeaways in scrimmage.

Should be fun to watch in real game action.

 

[MuckOG]

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Only 13 hrs to go!

 

[thestonedkoala]

I'm curious to see how the lineup changes over time. I see that the Wild don't think of Eriksson-Ek as anything but a PK, defensive specialist, which is a shame. I would have started him out in the top 6 and see what type of offense he has. Could go a long way to shoring up the top 6 center if he ends up posting 15-20 goals and 30-40 assists.

 

[ThatGuy22]

I'm curious to see how the lineup changes over time. I see that the Wild don't think of Eriksson-Ek as anything but a PK, defensive specialist, which is a shame. I would have started him out in the top 6 and see what type of offense he has. Could go a long way to shoring up the top 6 center if he ends up posting 15-20 goals and 30-40 assists.

I'm sure JEE will see time up the lineup. I think with the huge roster turnover in the top 6, Evason probably wanted one line that had some continuity and known chemistry.

 

[GuerinUp]

 

[thestonedkoala]

I'm sure JEE will see time up the lineup. I think with the huge roster turnover in the top 6, Evason probably wanted one line that had some continuity and known chemistry.

That's fair...though Parise - Bjugstad - Kaprizov was the best line during the scrimmages apparently.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Fiala is about to take that next step

 

[ThatGuy22]

That's fair...though Parise - Bjugstad - Kaprizov was the best line during the scrimmages apparently.

I put close to zero stock in training camp scrimmages. Vet's are just trying to get loose and not get hurt, and Kaprizov had new puppy energy.

 

[thestonedkoala]

I put close to zero stock in training camp scrimmages. Vet's are just trying to get loose and not get hurt, and Kaprizov had new puppy energy.

But you can see the chemistry. Regardless if they are getting loose and not getting hurt or if Kaprizov is excited, you can tell which players gel with each other.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

I give you Suter & Dumba 2 periods.

Go team.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

But you can see the chemistry. Regardless if they are getting loose and not getting hurt or if Kaprizov is excited, you can tell which players gel with each other.

if youre gonna say one line looked great together it would be the 4th line. sturm rask and hartman looked solid together in both scrimmages. kaprisov was carrying his line they didnt look that great together.

 

[Wild11MN]

I don't care about winning tonight, I don't care about Fiala or Talbot.

All that matters is Kaprizov. FINALLY!!!

 

[thestonedkoala]

if youre gonna say one line looked great together it would be the 4th line. sturm rask and hartman looked solid together in both scrimmages. kaprisov was carrying his line they didnt look that great together.

Others saw differently, we'll see.

 

[AKL]

If chemistry is what you'd call Parise-Bjugstad-Kaprizov in training camp, it's going to be a long season.

 

[GuerinUp]

Im predicting 3 points for the russian savior

 

[thestonedkoala]

Im predicting 3 points for the russian savior

Hope so, because the more points Bjugstad gets the higher his value at the deadline.

 

[MuckOG]

Hope so, because the more points Bjugstad gets the higher his value at the deadline.

Hypothetical question: Is it possible that Bjugstad (or Johansson or Bonino) plays so well that, rather than trade him, it makes more sense to re-sign him?

 

[57special]

That would be what you call a first world problem. In terms of Centers, we are more of a third world team.