@frozen4champs don’t love it but may be part of not having last change to protect buium as much
Absolutely gutless. IMO- it's a bad decision just based on talent level. When you add in the message it sends to your team and to your future #1 defenseman, it's really hard to understand. Coaching not to lose is exactly why Hynes has never won.
I don’t get it.
Bingo! Agree 100% ☝️Absolutely gutless. IMO- it's a bad decision just based on talent level. When you add in the message it sends to your team and to your future #1 defenseman, it's really hard to understand. Coaching not to lose is exactly why Hynes has never won.
Just taking him out shows me they’ve cracked. They were 2 for 5 on pp when he played this series. And the pp has been SHIT all year. Self delusion by Hynes & Guerin. Just because you’re plucky doesn’t mean you’ll beat the former champs without risking playing someone who’s inexperienced but has a certain raw talent on pp the Wild lack.
Wild may push it to 7 but aren’t beating Vegas going the conservative route. Hope to HELL they prove me wrong, but I’m highly skeptical they will.
I'm neutral on the whole Buium thing. The question is if his offensive benefits outweigh his inexperience based defensive shortcomings, and I don't feel like it is clear one way or another to me. I don't love Merrell and it is not like he never makes mistakes, but I do feel less anxiety about his defensive play and feel he is less likely to try something at he blueline to cough up an odd man rush. And Zeev hasn't shown the offensive lift 5-on-5 I expected to see, and expect to see in the future. I was anticipating that Zeev would step in and make a couple plays in the O zone each game where I'd feel I was seeing a glimpse of the future. I was all for putting him in to start he playoffs. But he's been tentative at times (not surprising for a 19 yo stepping into playoffs) and a couple times nearly coughed up pucks in bad spots. On the PP, he does improve things, but it also isn't like they are getting 6 PP's a game against Vegas. And I have no doubt that Zeev will be better defensively than Merrill after gaining more confidence in his game. And it would be different if Bogo was a more shutdown D. So putting in Merrill might be partly due to BOGO's shortcomings.
I don't put it on Hyne's being too conservative. I think every coach has tried making changes after a loss to mix things up. In Vegas's building I am guessing he is expecting a big push and thinking playing a very structured D game is more likely to win than trying to outscore them in a more offensive game.
I guess we'll see tonight. Hopefully the Wild won't also have to beat the guys in stripes too.
@koho very fair post. Could also be some fatigue in the top 4 who have been playing very heavy minutes and having Merrill in allows them to balance the minutes more rather than protecting a Bogo-Buium pairing a bit more in terms of line pairings and matchups
I don’t like it from the sense of I don’t think this team has enough to do this through the western conference in terms of depth and will get worn down ether way so would rather see Buium, but I also get it
I don't think taking Buium out is disastrous. It's clear they aren't comfortable with him on the defensive side yet. He's got 4 games on tape now, plenty to review with the staff, and sometimes watching games from the press box can be helpful to a young guy.
I don't think we've seen the last of him in this series. I'd say a decent chance he's back in for game 6. This isn't an indictment on who he will be in the future.
I don't think taking Buium out is disastrous. It's clear they aren't comfortable with him on the defensive side yet. He's got 4 games on tape now, plenty to review with the staff, and sometimes watching games from the press box can be helpful to a young guy.
I don't think we've seen the last of him in this series. I'd say a decent chance he's back in for game 6. This isn't an indictment on who he will be in the future.
This is my thought as well. The team can always use a scoring punch, but there's an obvious risk while Buium is adapting to its structure. In their late power play last game, Spurgeon played as the single defenseman and it's hard to argue the kid would have been a better choice. Limiting Buium's shifts down the stretch of a physical slugfest seems pretty rational to me.
It says more about the team's vulnerabilities than its strengths that they threw a 19-year old into the breach.
I don't think taking Buium out is disastrous. It's clear they aren't comfortable with him on the defensive side yet. He's got 4 games on tape now, plenty to review with the staff, and sometimes watching games from the press box can be helpful to a young guy.
I don't think we've seen the last of him in this series. I'd say a decent chance he's back in for game 6. This isn't an indictment on who he will be in the future.
This is my thought as well. The team can always use a scoring punch, but there's an obvious risk while Buium is adapting to its structure. In their late power play last game, Spurgeon played as the single defenseman and it's hard to argue the kid would have been a better choice. Limiting Buium's shifts down the stretch of a physical slugfest seems pretty rational to me.
It says more about the team's vulnerabilities than its strengths that they threw a 19-year old into the breach.
Exactly. And while it was incidental, he did take a 4 min penalty in the 3rd period. Need to learn to control your stick better when there aren't facemasks. He'll get there and not being there at 19 is just fine.
Great point! He’s used to playing NCAA with full cages or shields, if your stick goes high and clips someone in the mask, it’s no big deal and rarely called a penalty, so that’s something he needs to adjust to rapidly!I don't think taking Buium out is disastrous. It's clear they aren't comfortable with him on the defensive side yet. He's got 4 games on tape now, plenty to review with the staff, and sometimes watching games from the press box can be helpful to a young guy.
I don't think we've seen the last of him in this series. I'd say a decent chance he's back in for game 6. This isn't an indictment on who he will be in the future.
This is my thought as well. The team can always use a scoring punch, but there's an obvious risk while Buium is adapting to its structure. In their late power play last game, Spurgeon played as the single defenseman and it's hard to argue the kid would have been a better choice. Limiting Buium's shifts down the stretch of a physical slugfest seems pretty rational to me.
It says more about the team's vulnerabilities than its strengths that they threw a 19-year old into the breach.
Exactly. And while it was incidental, he did take a 4 min penalty in the 3rd period. Need to learn to control your stick better when there aren't facemasks. He'll get there and not being there at 19 is just fine.
In 4 games this series, Buium has been on the ice with Kaprizov for a total of 6:34, Boldy for 6:55, and Eriksson Ek for 5:10 In one game this series Buium was on the ice with Hinostroza for 5:13. How does that make any sense? You were just handed one of the best defenseman to ever come out of the NCAA and you're going to have him play dump and chase with Vinnie Hinostroza? Those ice time numbers indicate that they are intentionally avoiding putting Buium on the ice with their best(only) offensive line. Why? It's not like you have another defenseman with even average offensive abilities. They probably are better off going with Merrill if they're not willing to let the kid play. Except now you have nobody to run your PP.
Why wouldn't Hynes pair Buium with Spurgeon and then play them exclusively with the Ek line or when an offensive opportunity arises? Allows you to put Middleton with Bogosian and let them play their style of game with the bottom 6 where it would actually fit. You can always go back to Spurgeon/Middleton when the situations dictate it.
Presumably they’re trying to shelter him from the Eichel/Stone line.
Except they're specifically looking to get Spurgeon/Middleton in that situation and those 2 are getting killed this series, and provide little offense. It doesn't make any sense to me.Presumably they’re trying to shelter him from the Eichel/Stone line.
The top line on each team have been matched up in this series and we don't want our 3rd D pair on the ice against Vegas' top line so therefore our 3rd D pair hasn't been on the ice with our top line.
He is 19 years old and has been getting phased in slowly by playing limited minutes on the 3rd D pair and matched up against Vegas' bottom two lines.
I am reminded of this scene. Don't rush the process.
Why would you want your worst pair matched against their top line though? It would make sense if they were going out of their way to get Faber/Brodin out against Eichel.The top line on each team have been matched up in this series and we don't want our 3rd D pair on the ice against Vegas' top line so therefore our 3rd D pair hasn't been on the ice with our top line.
He is 19 years old and has been getting phased in slowly by playing limited minutes on the 3rd D pair and matched up against Vegas' bottom two lines.
I am reminded of this scene. Don't rush the process.
Spurgeon is a +5 and Middleton is a +1 in the series.
Eichel and Stone each have one point (no goals) in the series. Eichel is a -7 and Stone is -4 in the series.
Yep Eichel and Stone are killing Spurgeon and Middleton. 🤔 🤣
Pretty much everyone is getting outshot and outchanced other than Faber and JEE. Coaches tend to be conservative for better or worse and despite all this they're even (edited lol) in the series so I doubt it's gonna change. I get where J22 is coming from but it's not like that isn't a risk that could backfire over a short sample and have everyone pointing fingers at the coach.
There are 46 dpairs that have played at least 25minutes together 5x5. Spurgeon/Middleton are dead last in XGF% at 28.46. Dead last in SCF% at 29.51. Dead last in HDCF% at 20. Those numbers are despite the fact that Spurgeon/Middleton have played close to half of their 5x5 minutes with the Ek line.Spurgeon is a +5 and Middleton is a +1 in the series.
Eichel and Stone each have one point (no goals) in the series. Eichel is a -7 and Stone is -4 in the series.
Yep Eichel and Stone are killing Spurgeon and Middleton. 🤔 🤣
Eichel's XGF% against Wild dmen-
Middleton- 49
Brodin- 48
Faber- 43
Spurgeon-41
Bogosian- 26
Buium-24
It isn't Spurgeon and Middleton that are shutting anyone down.
I'm not saying that Merrill over Buium is a guaranteed anything. I'm more wondering why/how you would ever use a player like Buium the way that they did/are. Why would you ever take a player like Buium and decide that the best way to "ease" him into the NHL is by having him play a purely defensive role with the worst offensive players on your roster? Can you imagine how quickly Jared Bednar would be fired if the Avalanche played a game where Mackinnon and Makar played 39 seconds together?Pretty much everyone is getting outshot and outchanced other than Faber and JEE. Coaches tend to be conservative for better or worse and despite all this they're even (edited lol) in the series so I doubt it's gonna change. I get where J22 is coming from but it's not like that isn't a risk that could backfire over a short sample and have everyone pointing fingers at the coach.
MacKinnon is 29 years old. Makar is 26 years old.
I suspect Buium's role will change over the next 7 years. 😉
You want to wait 7 years to find out if Hynes can figure out how to use the skills of his players?MacKinnon is 29 years old. Makar is 26 years old.
I suspect Buium's role will change over the next 7 years. 😉
Buium has been on the team for two weeks. #PatienceYoungGrasshopper
I don’t see how Merrill/Begosian is any better than Buium/Begosian. If anyone should get scratched it’s Begosian.
The problem here is Spurgeon but that’s not gonna happen
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
Do we say something about this not happening if zeev is playing rather than the 5F PP?
great response from the Zuccy-KK combo
Merrill has 2 points and is a -7 in 37 career playoff games playing 15 TOI. What exactly more does he bring to the table?
Announcers effusively praise Faber who of course immediately turns it over for an eventual goal
Terrible shift by Faber on that 2nd goal and an even more terrible challenge on the goal.
So much for Hanes being gutless. Going with a five forward power play and then sticking with it after they gave up a shorty giving the five forwards the chance to get the goal back. If they would have given up a second shorty the State of Hockey would have gone nuts.
I prefer one defensemen on the power play and have no problem with Faber (10 goals 19 assists in 78 games), Spurgeon (7 goals, 25 assists in 66 games) or Brodin (4 goals, 16 assists and 50 games).
Although forwards should be better at covering then what they did on the shorty. Boldy gives up a tap in. I could have scored that goal.
36 clean breakaway no SOG ugh
You just know there is going to be an obvious missed call late in the game and MN won’t be able to challenge. 👻
Bank on it.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every time the show that Vegas cup banner 
The Vegas player is definitely in the crease Gus and him make contact with each other.
Is Gus suppose to make sure the contact is more severe (risking injury) to get the call aka as not allow the player to screen him by being in the crease?
The crease is suppose to be the goalie's space why does he have to make sure there is heavy contact to get his space?
You just know there is going to be an obvious missed call late in the game and MN won’t be able to challenge. 👻
Bank on it.
Yeah, I’ve got a bad feeling about this one.
Terrible shift by Faber on that 2nd goal and an even more terrible challenge on the goal.
My guess is the video guy is a big NCAA hockey fan. That's no goal in NCAA. (Cannot screen the goalie while any part of your body is in the crease - 84.6-8)
Merrill just got walked, luckily no goal given up.
It's an automatic no-goal in the NHL as well. (when they decide to actually use the rule book)Terrible shift by Faber on that 2nd goal and an even more terrible challenge on the goal.
My guess is the video guy is a big NCAA hockey fan. That's no goal in NCAA. (Cannot screen the goalie while any part of your body is in the crease - 84.6-8)
It's an automatic no-goal in the NHL as well. (when they decide to actually use the rule book)Terrible shift by Faber on that 2nd goal and an even more terrible challenge on the goal.
My guess is the video guy is a big NCAA hockey fan. That's no goal in NCAA. (Cannot screen the goalie while any part of your body is in the crease - 84.6-8)
Well hey, they reviewed it for about 4.6 seconds, so they must be correct.
It's an automatic no-goal in the NHL as well. (when they decide to actually use the rule book)Terrible shift by Faber on that 2nd goal and an even more terrible challenge on the goal.
My guess is the video guy is a big NCAA hockey fan. That's no goal in NCAA. (Cannot screen the goalie while any part of your body is in the crease - 84.6-8)
Well hey, they reviewed it for about 4.6 seconds, so they must be correct.
69.3 Contact Inside the Goal Crease - If an attacking player initiates
contact with a goalkeeper, incidental or otherwise, while the
goalkeeper is in his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be
disallowed (refer to Rule 69.7 for an exception).
If a goalkeeper, in the act of establishing his position within his
goal crease, initiates contact with an attacking player who is in the
goal crease, and this results in an impairment of the goalkeeper’s
ability to defend his goal, and a goal is scored, the goal will be
disallowed
Making a bad decision doesn't make him braveSo much for Hanes being gutless. Going with a five forward power play and then sticking with it after they gave up a shorty giving the five forwards the chance to get the goal back. If they would have given up a second shorty the State of Hockey would have gone nuts.
I prefer one defensemen on the power play and have no problem with Faber (10 goals 19 assists in 78 games), Spurgeon (7 goals, 25 assists in 66 games) or Brodin (4 goals, 16 assists and 50 games).
Although forwards should be better at covering then what they did on the shorty. Boldy gives up a tap in. I could have scored that goal.
Per the rule book the review should have at least taken quite a bit longer, and probably resulted in a disallowed goal.
BUT, they’ve almost never called it that way and to think they’d start now is pretty silly.
@j22 sorry if I forgot the sarcasm font. I wasn't disagreeing.
I can't believe they actually looked at anything in the amount of time that review took.
Page 157 2024-2025 NHL rulebook
Table 16
Rule 69 interference of the goalkeeper
Interference on the goalkeeper situations-
D. An attacking player plants himself
within the goal crease, as to obstruct
the goalkeeper’s vision and impair his
ability to defend his goal, and a goal is
scored.
Goal is disallowed. The announcement
should be, “No goal due to interference
with the goalkeeper.”
By NHL rule, there doesn't even have to be contact between the players. As long as the attacking player is in the crease, it's interference if he even attempts to screen the goalie.
Did Hauge just cover the puck in the crease on the wild PP?
Then change the goalie crease back to the old rectangle if you're going to allow the offense player to screen (even making contact with) the goalie in the current crease since if this is the way they are going to call it (ignoring the rule book) the current crease isn't his space.
I don't think Vegas' goalie is even that good, but Minnesota hasn't cashed in on its opportunities.
It feels like the real Vegas is coming out. Wild needs the next goal.
Our PK is nowhere good enough to take this many penalties