On the Western Front [MinnyIce preview]
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The Minnesota Wild currently have the 14th most points in the NHL after starting the season on a hot streak. Multiple times each week we’ll comprise some tidbits from around the Weztern conference to keep you on top of the competition the Wild will face for and in the playoffs.
On The Western Front
ST. LOUIS: Blues About to Get Better?
The Blues currently occupy second place in the NHL West despite playing much of the season without arguably their best player. But Vladimir Tarasenko has finally returned to the St. Louis lineup. He’s averaged just over seventeen and a half minutes in his first couple games back. Here’s a full notebook for you to pore over from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
VEGAS: Knight Suffer Key Loss
Alex Pietrangelo has left the Golden Knights’ road trip and will miss at least the next three games. In a game against San Jose, he blocked a shot near his wrist. Last Word on Sports’ Luke Flannigan thinks that might be the cause for Pietrangelo to return to Vegas for evaluation.
COLORADO: Long Time No See
Because of the scheduling quirks of this pandemic season, when Colorado hosts the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday from Ball Arena in Denver (9pm ET, ALT, FSAZ, NHL.TV) It will beonly the second time that Colorado has hosted the Coyotes this year! Looks like you might need a preview.
LOS ANGELES: How Many Kings Does it Take…
With Cal Petersen now undergoing COVID protocol, here’s how the Kings will adjust. For one man down, bring three men up! So writes the LA Kings Insider’s Zach Dooley.
ARIZONA: Coyotes Survive Avalanche in a Thriller
Arizona defeated Colorado 3-2 on Monday night, and it was thrilling by all accounts. You had a fast start, and a wild finish.
MINNESOTA: Wild Rookie Making Their Mark
While Kirill Kaprizov has gotten most of the headlines rookie netminder Kappo Kahkonen is channeling his inner Nicklas Backstrom, or at least, that’s the opinion of Minnesota Wild scribe Dan Myers.
ANAHEIM: Rakell on a Roll! Right Out of Anaheim?
Let’s hear it for Rickard Rakell! Rakell is currently on a six-game scoring streak and Eric Stephens of the Athletic notes how he is upping his potential trade value.
SAN JOSE: Hertl Looking for Answers
San Jose’s Tomas Hertl is still unsure of how he might’vecontracted the novel coronavirus. As the San Jose Mercury News notes, he woke up with a fever and had to change the sheets after sweating profusely.