by Peter Ripka and Erik Ritland
"Granlund extended his point streak to nine games with what ended up being the game-winning goal late in the Wilds 3-2 road win over the Oilers. If he continues utilizing that lethal shot of his, he will finally on his way to reaching his potential."
Rambling On is your home for Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content, and joint the conversation, by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook.
We release two Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, one on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), one on Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and one on Thursday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).
In our latest edition, which is in our classic "Ramble style" bullet-point format, Wild analyst Peter Ripka and Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland discuss the Wild's recent win streak, their tendency to start slow, and Granlund's ascension.
Thanks for your support!
Not bad, not bad
The Wild still have a pretty good thing going as of late, winning seven of their last eight games. The good? The defense and the goaltending, with the offense still showing some signs of life. The bad? They still tend to get off to a slow start. The ugly? Far too many penalties.
Depth as key
The Wilds fourth line (especially Foligno and Fehr, who combined for a goal) had a big hand in the their 4-1 win against the Kings. Compared to his play before this year, Foligno seems like a different player. The success of this line is huge for the Wild's success this year. Every team needs depth scoring, and if you can get it from your fourth line, good things will happen.
Finally, some offense
Granlund, Staal, and Zucker combined for five points in the Wilds victory against the Avalanche. The team also did a good job of stopping their deadly first line. Which begs the question: is this a showcase of how good the Wild can be, or is it a mirage? Ultimately, it is a showcase on what could be. The problem, of course, is consistency. And hoping that they don't hit their usual December slump.
Bump in the road
The only Wild loss in the past week was to the Vancouver Canucks. As I'm afraid might continue happening, the slow start finally bit them, in addition to the power play being hideous. The chased the whole game, and that's a difficult way to win in any league.
Granlund comes alive (as a play on Frampton Comes Alive, get it?)
Granlund extended his point streak to nine games with what ended up being the game-winning goal late in the Wilds 3-2 road win over the Oilers. If he continues utilizing that lethal shot of his, he will finally on his way to reaching his potential. We'll have reason to worry if he becomes only a passer again.
Peter Ripka is the original Rambling On podcast co-host and has been a contributor since its inception. He’s currently the Wild analyst, a position he’s held for several years. A Wild and Twins season ticket holder, his writing combines the passion of a fan and the insight of a beat writer.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. Founder of Rambling On, he has written hundreds of articles and hosted almost a hundred podcasts. He also directs all of the content on Rambling On, created and maintains the website, and is social media content director. Previously, he was Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music by visiting his music page or buying his music on BandCamp, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
"Granlund extended his point streak to nine games with what ended up being the game-winning goal late in the Wilds 3-2 road win over the Oilers. If he continues utilizing that lethal shot of his, he will finally on his way to reaching his potential."
Rambling On is your home for Minnesota sports talk for the common fan. Check out our daily content, and joint the conversation, by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook.
We release two Minnesota Sports Ramble blogs a week, one on Tuesday (Minnesota Vikings related), one on Wednesday (Minnesota Wild related), and one on Thursday (Minnesota Timberwolves related).
In our latest edition, which is in our classic "Ramble style" bullet-point format, Wild analyst Peter Ripka and Rambling On god-king Erik Ritland discuss the Wild's recent win streak, their tendency to start slow, and Granlund's ascension.
Thanks for your support!
Not bad, not bad
The Wild still have a pretty good thing going as of late, winning seven of their last eight games. The good? The defense and the goaltending, with the offense still showing some signs of life. The bad? They still tend to get off to a slow start. The ugly? Far too many penalties.
Depth as key
The Wilds fourth line (especially Foligno and Fehr, who combined for a goal) had a big hand in the their 4-1 win against the Kings. Compared to his play before this year, Foligno seems like a different player. The success of this line is huge for the Wild's success this year. Every team needs depth scoring, and if you can get it from your fourth line, good things will happen.
Finally, some offense
Granlund, Staal, and Zucker combined for five points in the Wilds victory against the Avalanche. The team also did a good job of stopping their deadly first line. Which begs the question: is this a showcase of how good the Wild can be, or is it a mirage? Ultimately, it is a showcase on what could be. The problem, of course, is consistency. And hoping that they don't hit their usual December slump.
Bump in the road
The only Wild loss in the past week was to the Vancouver Canucks. As I'm afraid might continue happening, the slow start finally bit them, in addition to the power play being hideous. The chased the whole game, and that's a difficult way to win in any league.
Granlund comes alive (as a play on Frampton Comes Alive, get it?)
Granlund extended his point streak to nine games with what ended up being the game-winning goal late in the Wilds 3-2 road win over the Oilers. If he continues utilizing that lethal shot of his, he will finally on his way to reaching his potential. We'll have reason to worry if he becomes only a passer again.
Peter Ripka is the original Rambling On podcast co-host and has been a contributor since its inception. He’s currently the Wild analyst, a position he’s held for several years. A Wild and Twins season ticket holder, his writing combines the passion of a fan and the insight of a beat writer.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. Founder of Rambling On, he has written hundreds of articles and hosted almost a hundred podcasts. He also directs all of the content on Rambling On, created and maintains the website, and is social media content director. Previously, he was Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music by visiting his music page or buying his music on BandCamp, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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