But the Wild aren’t too bad. Their penalty kill is what really concerns me. The Avs have made a bit of a comeback on the special teams but the Wild have a nasty penalty kill.

I think Foote will suprise a lot of nay-sayers when he shifts against the Gaborik line. Don’t look for Gaborik to have a lot of chances 5v5. Precisely why we needed Foote to begin with. I like that the Wild are chippier now and more physical, I think that makes a series more compelling. The Avs can do some damage if they make the Wild pay during 5v5 play with their 2nd and 3rd lines. The Wild seem pretty top heavy to me with Gaborik and Roloson. Stay out of the box and get the Smyth and Sakic lines hot.

San Jose on the other hand is really a concern. Physical and deep across two lines. Can match up 5v5 scoring pretty well with the Avs. Thorton spends most of this time on Sauer’s side of the ice if they shift Foote against his line Sauer would have to contain him. I have no confidence in that. Salei with Finger could work but if Q were smart he would put Hannan on the ice with Thorton but that means mixing up the Liles paring I think. Nabokov has a lot of playoff experience and we’ve see that guy just shut down a whole series. I don’t want to see him in the playoffs at all.

I’ll take the wild and be happy for it.

I’m also concerned they’re going to clutch and grab their way to a series win, with how the officiating has been recently.

100% true. but I take umbrage with them saying it’s locked up when it isn’t.

In terms of our chances against the 2 teams, we’re probably slightly better off playing the Wild, so I’m not totally put out. But I hate the fricken Wild and their style of play so much.