Joe Smith w/Tom Reid @KFAN1003

0:00The Minnesota Wild Podcast is presented exclusively by Acre Show. Here in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, as we celebrate the first period, a score of two nothing for the wild over the Ottawa Senators. I'm Tom Reed, who is joined with Joe Smith of the Athletic. I guess, first of all, Joe, you wonder what's going to happen in a situation like that. Minnesows in the playoffs, Ottawa's scrambling to get in the playoffs. And then Minnesows got the lead, just two goals and eight shots. He gave up 14, but Minnesows pretty good period, the scoring line for that. Yeah, I mean, I think it was a pretty good road period. I mean, obviously, Walsh, that made some good saves there. But they're opportunistic. And I think I like the Jody Protein play. Just get the puck toward the net, shoot for a rebound. Tom and they've found a way to get a lucky bounce there for the first goal. But I think John Heinz mentioned they want to get through this weekend, kind of the three and four, playing a really good hockey that maybe rest some guys down the stretch. I know they have Dallas on Thursday, but they look really good in Vancouver. And this is a good start for them today in Ottawa. Yeah, Minnesows had a nice stretch of four days off, like they did have.

1:02And of course, that, especially the guys who had to go to the Olympics and play the Olympics, you've got some a little bit of a breathing room, which they didn't have for the prior season. Yeah, you can really tell a difference, especially with Matt Goldie, I thought. Last game, like he has so much more pop in his skating. He was aggressive. He obviously had the goals like we all saw. But guys like him and Quinn, and Quinn did a mental break from all the last couple of months and favors. So every team had that four day break. Just the well headed at a pretty opportune time, right? Right before the end of the season. So you could see a difference in a lot of the guys. And now it's a home stretch, right time. The most fun part of the year is playoffs. And they're almost there. They seem to get there and stay healthy. You know, you mentioned playoffs and it's interesting. You look at, look where we are in the season right now. And very few teams really have found a way to be in the playoffs at the stage of the game. It's been a very, very tight race and one continue to be that way. So look at the, you know, that the Eastern Conference, right? Like there's like the centers are part of four teams that were tied to that last wild card spot with Billy Winning last night.

2:02So talk about hold it on your seats there the last week and a half. Every one of these games matters. He tried red wings tomorrow. The wild play. They're fighting for a playoff spot as well. So there's the key, which is hard. I know for the wild is the match of desperation. These teams who are playing with the playoff lies when the wild know not only that they're in the playoffs, but who they're playing in the first round. Just a matter of where. So it'll be interesting to see how they can match that intensity. Yeah, it's really interesting too. When you look at it and you look at the different divisions and very few teams in these division are in the playoffs yet. I mean, there's a lot. I look at the met the problem division and the only team that's in the playoffs right now, the eight teams is Carolina. They're the one they have nobody in the Atlantic division that has solidified the playoff position yet. You look at the central division. There's three teams that being Colorado, Dallas. I mean, so it's been that way just went from the get go this season. And you look at the Pacific division. And there's not one team in that division that has qualified for the playoffs. And here we are. Seven games left.

3:02Ten days away. Yeah. There's anywhere from five to seven games left for these teams. So the matchup that has been known for months is Dallas, Minnesota. The rest of it in the West. There seems like, you know, who knows who Colorado is playing the first round? Who's going to get that second spot? It's like a wild card spot in the Western conference too. So a lot of teams that are fighting for that. So it's fun. I guess for the game for the game for the fans. They already have all these markets are still into it. They're still feeling like they have a chance. But it's definitely different feeling in Minnesota where it feels like they've been this groundhog day waiting for Dallas to show up on April 18th. People ask me all the time. What do you think you do against Dallas? I mean, you cover this team. You've even watched them the last few years. What's your take on how Minnesota will fare against the Dallas series? I think they played in a tough series a couple years ago. Remember, like Gustafson had that 50 save overtime win and they played flower of the next game. So that was a tough series. I think they're more. They're better equipped now to beat Dallas in a seven game series with their depth up front. Look at the line that you can have a fourth line of Valino. Valino McCarran.

4:02That's a heck of a fourth line for a playoff run. Their goal tending is good. And you can use an X factor, I think. You know, with high skin in and in my car in that same division, you have a now even guy who plays half the game. You can control play. You can be a breakout. You can create offense up the middle. You don't have a number one center quote unquote. But you have a lot of guys that are a people who are creating plays with the wings. They're pretty soft and boldly. So Dallas is a heck of a team. They're really hard to play against. They play a really structured game. But I think the wild with the way they're built this year. And their special teams are better to the PK. It's been their kind of their Achilles heel against Dallas. When you look at the PK they have now is a lot better. I think. Yeah, you look at the youngsters coming in the league also and what they bring the table. I look at Maclin, Salabrini. I mean, he's just two points now. But in his second year that he's going to two points it for a hundred points. And in the league. And then people are talking about him and how good he has been. And he has been. I mean, that's that those are the type of players that fans want to see play. They want to come. The next face of the NHL in my opinion and like, you know, MVP.

5:04We all have hard drove evokes coming up in the next couple of weeks. I've been on record saying Kutra off and probably be my pick. But it's hard to make the playoffs. There are no reason to make the playoffs. You know, they have a guy Salabrini really lift them on his back as a young kid to carry them into a play opposition even though the Pacific Division is kind of a struggle bus there. But yeah, I think he's been incredible talent. And he'll be one of the best. We'll ever probably play the game just by the end of his career. Just how good he is. Now, this is game number 76 for Minnesota. So the season is winding down here. What are you expecting for Minnesota for the last 10-11 games? Well, the gate days I should say. I think the key for them is finding what their playoff lineup is going to look like. I think the top two lines are pretty much set. Now they're figured out. Who's that last one or two spots in the lineup in the bottom six? Is he how that kind of fits for the playoffs? And so they want to get guys to feel good about their games. It's the right heart that's feeling good about his game right now. They want Carl and Matt Goldie to be feeling good about their game going to the playoffs. So a lot of it's that. And they'll be resting some guys. I think after this weekend, they'll probably consider resting a few of their top guys or minute-eaters down the stretch because they don't have to play them.

6:06So I think that'll be interesting to see who sits out, who doesn't. Play something hundred kids and see what happens. But yeah, I think they want to get their game in the right order. People will feel good about their games. And then overall, they'll rest guys and stay healthy before the Dallas game. Who won Minnesota's roster as surprised you this year in the way they play? Anybody in particular? Who's surprised me? I mean, I think, you know, I think you're off from a full season. I think you're off. You saw him in rookie tournament. You had deer and headlights, right? You had no idea that this guy played in the NHL right now. Is he ready? I remember him to play what, I mean, like 60, 70 games in the league. And I think John Hines this morning, kind of compared him to Larkson, that in terms of he just does the right thing all the time. Is it just a smart player? Play to learn being so. I think his development for me, big picture was a really important thing for the wild, whether he plays game one of the playoffs or not, I don't know. But to see him go for where he was in rookie camp to all of a sudden being a regular for most of the season in a really good team was pretty impressive. Yeah, it's going to be interesting next couple of weeks here.

7:07We wind down this 25-26 season. So it's going to be fun to watch, no question about Joe. Thanks for being with us. Anytime. Thanks so much. Joe Smith, I guess here. Kevin, let's go back to you. All right, Thomas, thank you very much for joining us in the intermission. And Joe Smith will get a gift certificate down to Tom Reed, hockey city pub. And as we say, you can have the gift certificate. Just don't share with Michael Russo. We'll break and then we'll recap the first period. It's been all Minnesota thus far, at least from a scoreboard standpoint. They lead the Senators 2-0. You're listening to Wild Hockey, presented by Grand Casino. The best place to go for all your Minnesota Wild audio needs is the official Minnesota Wild podcast, presented by Acresure. Everything Minnesota Wild related, including highlights, press conferences, players, coaches, general managers, and more, it's available on the official Minnesota Wild podcast, presented by Acresure. It's all just a click away at wild.com slash podcast.