After yet another clutch performance coming from Kirill Kaprizov, the Minnesota Wild face the Anaheim Ducks for the second game of a back-to-back. Minnesota was able to start the final weekend of the regular season with a below-average performance that eventually lead to a Kaprizov game-winning goal in the extra period https://www.storeminnesotaonline.com/Louie_Belpedio_Face_Mask-158. It didn feel right, and didn look right, but the Wild were able to get the two points and prepare to face that same Ducks team again tonight. If nothing strays from the norm tonight, the Wild should be in a good position to take advantage of a young Ducks team that is just finding their way through this weird season. The only real takeaway and hope for this game is to enter the postseason on a good note. With a stretch of a dozen or so games where they haven looked truly dominant, ending the season on a high and entering a (likely) first round against the Colorado Avalanche with some momentum is the purpose of these last three games. The only standings juggling that can take place is really whether or not the Wild can have home ice advantage for the first series. The Avalanche are one point up on Minnesota and have a game in-hand, so all signs are pointing to the standings staying the way they currently are. Cam Talbot is back in between the pipes after Kaapo Kahkonen needed some help from the offense to secure the win last night. Talbot is sporting a . 918 save percentage and a 2. 58 goals against average this season, and he has played extremely well against Anaheim (2-1-0, . 951 sv%, 1. 34 GAA). There not much to lose or gain in this one except watching the team build upon this successful season. Burning QuestionsCan we see some consistencyConsistency is never really an option when it comes to NHL teams. Bouncing around between matchups and power play and penalty kills, your play is rarely consistent and able to be stable. But the Wild take inconsistency to a whole new level and has throughout this entire season Marcus Johansson T-Shirt. Looking dominant one shift and meek another, Minnesota prevents us from really getting a read on what they can do or what this team really is. Grandiose statements aside, the Wild have been victims to a shortened season with a COVID pause, so if they look completely dead for a period, then I comfortable with blaming fatigue and scheduling. It would just be nice if against a much lesser opponent we were able to see a full 60 minutes of pressure and domination heading into a tough first playoff round. Will Kaprizov score yet another goalWith a total of 17 goals in his last 22 games, Kirill Kaprizov cannot be stopped. It just goal after goal for the youngster and it always a welcome sight to see him surrounded by his teammates in the glow of the red lamp. Despite the consistency, Kaprizov only has last night goal against the Ducks this season but has has six points in seven games so he can always score another to bring him up to speed. Will Ryan Miller bow out with a winIt not like we want to see Ryan Miller get a win for the Ducks tonight https://www.storeminnesotaonline.com/Jared_Spurgeon_Flag-127, but with the veteran goaltender announcing his retirement after this season, in the most neutral way, it would be kind of cool to see him play well in what could be his final game of his career.

While he may fall short of winning the Calder Trophy for the NHL best rookie https://www.denverproshoponline.com/Damarea_Crockett_Face_Mask-352, Jason Robertson rookie season was nothing short of incredible. Perhaps the only thing more impressive than what he accomplished was how much he had improved:f you go back to January in training camp, he didn have a good camp when we put him with our top players, explained [head coach Rick] Bowness. . . e just wasn ready for that. He got to be the most improved player in the league. His improvement from [where he was] in January to where he is now, there absolutely no comparison. His competitive nature has improved, his intensity has improved, his play without the puck has improved. hat more, Robertson impact goes far beyond Dallas. As one of the few NHL players of Asian descent, the Dallas Stars forward is becoming somewhat of a role model for similar young hockey players, something Robertson takes pride in:t an honor to be someone that anyone can look up to, he said. t nice to be a role model for Asian Americans and Filipinos, but I just want to be a role model for everyone https://www.denverproshoponline.com/Bryce_Callahan_Hoodie-155. Whatever background they come from or wherever it is theye from. I from California and eventually moved to Michigan. You don expect a lot of NHL players coming out of California, so it a neat story that some people certainly can relate with. ou can read more about how Robertson got to where he is today from Kyle Shohara here. Stars StoriesHere some more Robertson love, as well as some for fellow rookie Jake Oettinger:The incredible rise of rookies Jason Robertson and Jake Oettinger 0 allegation that he was harassed and sexually assaulted by an ex-coach and that the team did nothing. "This entire man's life has been destroyed," player's lawyer says. 1Goaltending is everything in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so which teams stack up at the top"Washington is in trouble. ""Jordan Binnington has been the best goalie in the NHL over the last month and a half. "ESPN's hockey staff ranks the playoff goalies, and VallysView gives his expert takes on each of them. Great stuff here:1Finally, could the NHL play a larger role in women hockey in the near futureThe NHL informed the PWHPA and NWHL that if the two entities come together with a plan Andre Mintze Pillow Cover, the league would be inclined to participate. JeffMarek has more.

Anaheim DucksThe Ducks made no moves this week. Arizona CoyotesThe Coyotes made no moves his week. Boston BruinsThe Bruins made no moves his week. Buffalo SabresThe Sabres re-signed centre Sam Reinhart to a one-year contract. They re-signed goaltender Linus Ullmark to a one-year contract. They re-signed right winger Victor Olofsson to a two-year contract. Calgary FlamesThe Flames signed left winger Josh Leivo to a one-year contract. Carolina HurricanesThe Hurricanes re-signed defenceman Haydn Fleury to a two-year contract. They re-signed left winger Max McCormick to a one-year contract. Chicago BlackhawksThe Blackhawks made no moves his week. Colorado AvalancheThe Avalanche re-signed defenceman Devon Toews to a four-year contract. Columbus Blue JacketsThe Blue Jackets re-signed centre Calvin Thurkauf to a one-year contract https://www.storewinnipeg.com/Teemu_Selanne_Hoodie-61. They re-signed centre Kevin Stenlund to a one-year contract. They re-signed centre Ryan MacInnis to a one-year contract. Dallas StarsThe Stars signed defenceman Julius Honka to a one-year contract. Detroit Red WingsThe Red Wings re-signed left winger Tyler Bertuzzi to a one-year contract. Defenceman Trevor Daley has retired from pro hockey. Not always that potent an offensive contributor and weak defensively, Daley has usually credited the most for leadership and intangibles, especially once he left Dallas. He won two Stanley Cups, both with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017. Daley has career highs of 16 goals and 38 points, achieved in 2015 with Dallas, and 22 assists, achieved in 2015 with Dallas and 2016 with Pittsburgh. Daley finished his last season with seven assists in 43 games in the pandemic-shortened 2019/20 season. Daley will join the Pittsburgh Penguins as a Hockey Operations Adviser https://www.storewinnipeg.com/Logan_Stanley_Pillow_Cover-181. Edmonton OilersThe Oilers made no moves his week. Florida PanthersThe Panthers made no moves his week. Los Angeles KingsThe Kings made no moves his week. Minnesota WildThe Wild made no moves his week. Montreal CanadiensThe Canadiens made no moves his week. Nashville PredatorsThe Predators made no moves his week. New Jersey DevilsThe Devils re-signed defenceman Colton White to a one-year contract. New York IslandersThe Islanders re-signed left winger AJ Greer and right winger Joshua Ho-Sang to one-year contracts and re-signed defencemen Parker Wotherspoon and Mitch Vande Sompel to two-year contracts. New York RangersThe Rangers made no moves his week. Ottawa SenatorsThe Senators signed left winger Alex Galchenyuk to a one-year contract. They re-signed centre Chris Tierney to a one-year contract. They re-signed centre Filip Chlapik to a one-year contract. Philadelphia FlyersThe Flyers made no moves his week. Pittsburgh PenguinsThe Penguins made no moves his week. San Jose SharksThe Sharks made no moves his week https://www.storewinnipeg.com/Joona_Luoto_Face_Mask-154. St. Louis BluesThe Blues made no moves his week. Tampa Bay LightningThe Lightning made no moves his week. Toronto Maple LeafsThe Maple Leafs signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a two-year contract. They signed right winger Joey Anderson to a three-year contract extension. Vancouver CanucksThe Canucks re-signed defenceman Guillaume Brisebois to a one-year contract. Defenceman Oscar Fantenberg has signed a one-year contract in Russia with the KHL SKA St. Petersburg. Vegas Golden KnightsThe Golden Knights made no moves his week. Washington CapitalsThe Capitals signed centre Hendrix Lapierre to a three-year entry-level contract. Winnipeg JetsThe Jets signed centre Jansen Harkins to a two-year contract. They re-signed defenceman Sami Niku to a two-year contract.

If the Los Angeles Kings weren a little concerned about tonight game, well, maybe they should be. Vladimir Tarasenko has been officially removed from IR and will be skating in tonight game Ville Husso T-Shirt. He hasn played a regular season game since October of 2019, also against the Kings, when he injured his shoulder. He played only a couple of games against the Canucks in the playoff bubble before being shut down and sent home for surgery. To say the Blues and Tarasenko are excited is an understatement: think as an organization and as a team, wee ready for him to come back, Brayden Schenn said. e know what he can bring to our lineup, he can really put us to that next level. He able to change a game with a flick of the wrist. He has one of the best shots in the game, and wee looking forward to having him back. We know it going to take time (to get up to speed) https://www.stprostoreonline.com/Jake_Walman_Face_Mask-185, he hasn played a whole lot hockey in the past year. . . At the same time, he an elite talent and I don think it will take him too long to find his game. arasenko won be easing himself back into the fold. Doug Armstrong fully expects him to be an 18-21 minute player right off of the bat, while working up toward being the elite talent that Blues fans are used to seeing. This was his third shoulder surgery, so there is a little bit of trepidation, but that more than balanced out by the excitement of the Blues being one step closer to a full roster, at least up front. On defense, the news isn quite as good. Colton Parayko joins the injured reserve tonight. Parayko hasn played for eight games, and there has been much speculation over whether he shoulde been playing the games before he became listed as day to day. According to Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic (subscription required), Parayko was playing through a back injury before he was finally benched. The Blues still haven commented on his injury, calling it an pper body injury in today release about his placement on the IR Vince Dunn Face Mask. Parayko being placed on the IR frees up some space for Tarasenko salary.

Jon Robinson pulled off a miracle! He traded Isaiah Wilson to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a swap of 7th round picks Earl Campbell Pillow Cover. This gets the Titans off the hook for Wilson contract and his off the field garbage. I honestly cannot believe that this got done. The move saves the Titans $2. 6 million against this year cap. Obviously, it sucks to have to trade a first-round pick for a seventh-round pick the year after the pick was made Wyatt Ray Hoodie, but the Titans didn really have a choice here. You could tell me listening to everyone from Robinson to Mike Vrabel to the other offensive lineman that they were done with Wilson. It also sucks that this was never about talent. No one questions what Wilson can do when he is on the field with his head on right https://www.tennesseefanstoreonline.com/Wyatt_Ray_Flag-675. I doubt that will ever happen for Wilson, but I guess you never know.

Former Vikings defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson is signing with the Houston Texans, he announced on Twitter on Wednesday evening. Johnson, who turns 27 this summer, was drafted by the Vikings in the fourth round out of Iowa in 2017. He started 20 games for Minnesota in four years Ryan McCollum Face Mask, including all 16 games last season, and finishes his Vikings career with 87 tackles, 5. 5 sacks, and a forced fumble. The Vikings had high hopes for Johnson after he had 7. 5 sacks in his final season for the Hawkeyes, but he was never able to put it all together in Minnesota. He displayed some potential as a rotational defensive tackle through his first three seasons, including a 2019 season where he had a solid 4. 5 percent pressure rate and 3. 5 sacks. Last season, with Linval Joseph departing in free agency and Michael Pierce opting out due to COVID-19, Johnson became a full-time starter for the first time https://www.houstongearonline.com/Scottie_Phillips_Face_Mask-586. Out of 125 qualified DTs, he finished 123rd in PFF grade. Johnson was in over his head as a starter, with an abysmal 2. 1 percent pressure rate and poor run defense. He was too easily washed out of plays, unable to get off blocks, and was hopeless against double teams. Still, Johnson showed flashes of upside at times. This was one of his best plays of the year:Now Johnson will look to resurrect his career in Houston. Hell have to compete to make the team out of training camp, but his experience learning from Andre Patterson, Joseph, and others could give him a leg up on younger players. Johnson becomes the eighth former Viking to sign with a new team this offseason, joining Riley Reiff , Anthony Harris and Eric Wilson , Kyle Rudolph and Ifeadi Odenigbo , and Shamar Stephen and Mike Boone . The Vikings are set at DT on early downs with Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson, and have Armon Watts and James Lynch as depth. They could still use a more traditional three-tech who can create interior pressure https://www.houstongearonline.com/Geron_Christian_Sr_Flag-387. With Johnson and Odenigbo departing this offseason, Dalvin Cook is the only member of the Vikings 11-man 2017 draft class still with the team. Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Vikings news and analysis all offseason long. Also,follow me on Twitterand feel free to ask me any questions on there.

With just two days remaining until the NFL Draft kicks off (it about damn time), Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier still has his eyes everywhere, including his own roster. Per multiple reports, Grier has traded starting guard Ereck Flowers to the Washington Football Team for a swap of late-round draft picks https://www.miamigearonline.com/Mark_Clayton_Face_Mask-524. The Dolphins signed Flowers following a strong 2019 season in which the former first-round draft pick moved from tackle to guard and excelled, coincidentally, with Washington. He agreed to a three-year, $30 million pact with the Dolphins, a deal that was front-loaded to ensure the team could move on without significant cap ramifications if need be. With Flowers off the books, Grier has cleared upwards of $8 million from Miami salary cap. The Dolphins now head into the draft with second-year players Austin Jackson, Solomon Kindley, and Robert Hunt all set to start. Kindley and Hunt both excelled in the later half of last season at guard and right tackle respectively. That said, many analysts projected prior to the 2020 draft that Hunt could move to guard during his NFL career given his build, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that is now a distinct possibility. Dolphins are entertaining moving Robert Hunt to guard full time and filling RT with a free agent, per sources, so this move speaks to that. 1Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald followed up on Fowler report, saying that sources claim the Dolphins are indeed planning to move Hunt to right guard, opening up the possibility for the team to select a right tackle high in the draft. The Dolphins are indeed moving Robert Hunt to right guard and Penei Sewell is a possibility at pick 6 https://www.miamigearonline.com/Jay_Cutler_Flag-429, source tells the Miami Herald. Regardless of where Hunt lands, expect Kindley to continue stepping up at guard. Just take a look at this play, courtesy of our own Jake Mendel. Solomon Kindley's first snap at left guard after Ereck Flowers left the game with an injury If Hunt moves to guard, expect the Dolphins to fill in either Jesse Davis, newly signed veteran D. J. Fluker, a high-end draft pick, or a new free agent signee at right tackle. The team top offensive line assets, as the roster currently stands, are Jackson, Hunt, Kindley, Davis, Fluker, free agent signee Matt Skura (likely starting at center) https://www.miamigearonline.com/Preston_Williams_Hoodie-143, and former Wisconsin Badger Michael Deiter. Adam Pankey and Durval Queiroz Neto round out the depth chart. With Flowers out of the picture and Hunt potential move to guard in the fold, a variety of starting-five combinations are now in play for head coach Brian Flores and his staff.

Paul Kuharsky is reporting that the Titans will activate Kristian Fulton to the active roster later today:Titans CB Kristian Fulton will be activated out of his IR window today DeMarcus Ware Hoodie. Fulton was originally placed on IR more than a month ago. He was then designated for return which allowed him to practice with the team without counting towards the 53-man active roster for a period of three weeks Natrez Patrick Hoodie. Mike Vrabel had previously said that the deadline to activate Fulton was today (December 15th). His return is good news for a group that could always use more depth. Adoree Jackson has yet to play football this season and his timeline to return remains hazy. Breon Borders is currently on IR with a hip injury. Tye Smith performed well last week, but you wonder if the team would start Fulton in his place this week. It worth noting that most of Fulton snaps this season have come in the slot https://www.denverproshoponline.com/Tim_Patrick_T_shirt-20. That was prior to Desmond King arrival, however. Fulton played on the boundary at LSU, so we know he capable of doing so.