Wild 4, Golden Knights 2 - Full Postgame @KFAN1003

0:00You're listening to the official Minnesota wild pond cast presented by AcroShare. It's a John Hines coming up a full recap from this one plus a trip to the locker room in my post game comments. What first from the Bob Kurtz radio center? Here's Kevin Falmus. Eight seconds ago, Capri saw him hold it, flexed it down low, Eric Sinek, lost it, boldly couldn't jab it in. Eric Sinek shot it tight, that went high and wide for the Minnesota wild, they're going to hang on. They sweep the season series from the Golden Knights, a 3-2 overtime win at home in mid-November, a late December 5-2 victory in this barn, and they wrap it up with a 4-2 win at T-Mobile, arena to cap off the season series. How about that for a two game winning streak? You beat down the top team in the Atlantic division, and you follow it up with a win in Vegas against the top team in the Pacific. Welcome to the post game show, Kevin Falmus in the Bob Kurtz radio center out there at T-Mobile Arena.

1:01And for Tom Reed, once again, it's Alex Steylock, fun hockey these days, they're Alex, these back-to-back wins, signify the direction of this squad, and I think everyone's feeling good heading into the final 20 games of the regular season. It sure does, and the top three games stretch here. He played Tampa, he talked about leading the Atlantic, come in and you got the Vegas Gold Knights around top in the Pacific, and then he had to go to Colorado now with two wins under your belt. It's a tough little stretch, but I mean the wild for the most part of dominating these last two games, and it starts in the defensive zone, and they've gotten so good at springing quick defense and offense from zone attacks, and you know, since the acquisition of Hughes, they just look so quick and fast, and Zach will go into between periods. I want to go play hockey in the fun zone, and they get to play a lot of hockey down there, and you know, you see the addition, Robbie Fabri, I've loved his games since he's been here, plays with speed, he turnspucks over, and he's had good looks,

2:02he's both games he's been a part of, and McCarran, you see what he's going to bring in. His ability chipspucks, he gets in, and he gets on the hot in the offensive zone, and he forces other teams defenders to take looks over their shoulders, and you know, you got a body like that coming to crash in, and he has the ability to turnpucks over, create offense, and he's hard on the forecheck, it's fun to watch, and you know, you saw Flash this tonight, and Bobby brings skill, and he had a spin or am a play in the first period, he had some good looks, and you know, six shot attempts, I think he would have finished the game with us. So, you know, it's exciting, it's an excited group, and when your GM goals out, it makes moves like that, it signifies it sends a message to the locker room, that hey, we're taking a crack, and I think you can see tonight that they played with energy. Yeah, they join a team that's playing some pretty darn good hockey, third in the central division, but not just two points back of the Dallas stars, Colorado at the top of the heap, with 93 points, wild of one, two in a row, and eight of their last ten. I think we're going to talk to McCarran here in a little bit with Joe O'Donnell,

3:03so let me ask you about the goal tender. We talked a little bit about him in the pregame, we've talked about him in the intermission, but Philip Gustafson continues to hold steady between the pipes. How good has he been coming on, even going into the Olympic break, but especially coming out of it? Yeah, he's been incredible, and there's early on a couple breaks, cold seasons alone had two odd band breaks and lone breakways tonight, and he just looked so clean, his games calm, there's not a ton of rebounds laying around. He's been really efficient with his stick these last couple games, that's small little poke checks, subtle little plays around the crease, taking passes through the seams away, poke check on Doraphay of late tonight. You know, there's a save in the second period, there's a one time right in the slot when the game was still close, and you know, it saves like that, and it's just a consistent, cold-tening effort. Night in, night out, they are getting the consistency, this group knows on the bench what they're going to get, and there's never that soft leaky goal that's going in. That can sometimes have the bench, you know, lean over, and shrug your shoulders, and get down a little bit.

4:04There's just none of those, and you know, it's good to see when he's on form, he's ahead of the play, and he's just looked tremendous coming out of the Olympic break. Taka against Moorhead, Hibbing against Warrode, who you got? Oh man, I don't know, it'd be cool to see Hibbing get it out. Those Northern schools are so cool, the small communities, and that's going to be an exciting game, and we did have the dining Moorhead game up on in the booth too, so it's fun to see Moorhead's getting back in there, and you know, there's, you know, the Cullen bowls back in effect, and it's going to be a terrific game, and the seating's all right. It's one versus two, right? Yeah, it is, no upset to this point in the tournament. Yeah, it's just, it's been incredible for the seating, so it's, you know, it's fun to see, and we're watching from afar, and obviously it'd be fun to be there, but it looks like it's been a great tournament so far, and I'm looking forward to watching tomorrow. All right, big boy, we'll talk to you Sunday afternoon, from Denver, get your sleep, get your rest, we need you at the top of your game against the Avalanche. Yeah, so you sure will get it.

5:04I think it's going to be a late night tonight, and we know Denver's airport is about 45 minutes from downtown, so it's going to be a later night tonight, and we're going to need that sleep. All right, good luck. There he is, Alex Staylock, from Team Oble Arena, after yet another win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Beat him in November, they beat him in December, and now they beat him again in the early portion of March, Wild Ripoff, three straight wins against the Vegas Golden Knights. Tonight, it comes in a four-two victory at Team Oble Arena. A break, and then we'll get you back out to Vegas. Joe O'Donnell with one of the stars of tonight's game. Of course, we've got John Heins post-game comments and more. This is Wild Hockey, presented by Grand Casino. Well, a decent outcome, that's for sure, when the Wild come away with a four-two win, but don't forget, after one period of play, the game was 0-0 between the Wild and the Vegas Golden Knights. Go to the second, still scoreless early on, but then the Wild break it open in the span of just over three minutes.

6:06They score not one, not two, but three goals to make it a three-zero advantage and Zuccarella Bogosian and the new guy, McCarran, combined for the Grand Casino, plays of the game. One hand off in left side, skip one in an old man's land. It's a break for Zuccarella. Who gets the loose puck in a load on Span Zuccarella fires headscores! This is one time a ricochet around. Bogosian scores! Zach Bogosian, hammered one, and the Wild, just like that, have taken a two-nothing lay. Which on, he scores! It's free, nothing but a soda macarran in front. May have gotten a chunk of it and the Wild, in a matter of seconds, have blown this game open. The third of the three goals goes to the new guy, McCarran, ended up with a goal and a assist on the night. It also gets the eventual game winner, 33rd player to score in his wild debut, second guy to do it this season, along with Quinn Hughes, not bad company to keep those three goals in combination. The Grand Casinos play of the game.

7:06Grand Casino, where Minnesota comes to play, is at Grand Casino.com to plan your next visit. Let's pause ten seconds for Station Identification. You're listening to Wild Hockey, presented by Grand Casino. Four or two, the good guys come up on the winning edge, out there in Sin City, and they run their winning streak to two in a row. Like I said, to Alex Daylach, they've also won eight of their last ten overall, and four of their last five on the road. They sweep the season series with the Vegas Golden Knights. We'll get that to you back out to T-Mobile Arena here in a matter of moments. Here from one of those new guys, plus John Hines, you're listening to Wild Hockey, presented by Grand Casino. Favorite pushout, he scores! It's free, nothing but a soda macarran in front.

8:06May have gotten a chunk of it. And the Wild, in a matter of seconds, have blown this game open. Favorite with the shot from the right point, but it's tipped home by Michael McCarran, his sixth of the season, first with the Minnesota Wild, and like I said, 33rd player in Wild Franchise history to score in his team debut. Second time it's happened this season, he joins elite company, along with Quinn Hughes, a goal and an assist from Michael McCarran tonight, and he also has the eventual game winner. Back out to T-Mobile Arena, Joe O'Donnell is with the new guy. Thanks Kevin, Joe O'Donnell outside the Wild dress room with one of the stars of the game tonight and a 4-2 win for Minnesota, the newcomer Michael McCarran, one of several newcomers I guess that should have, but heck of a performance, goal and assist in your wild debut, pretty nice to join the lineup and contribute, I'm sure. Yeah, it felt good. It feels good coming into a really good team in a tight locker room, maybe feel ready at home right from the time I got here, and that's what I'm just trying to do these next 20 games

9:07just proved that I can help us team win, and it doesn't always necessarily end up on the score sheet, but it does feel nice to get one and contribute for the win tonight. How important is it for a new guy to come into an environment and feel like he belongs and have teammates that want him here? I mean, it's got to be important, and what's that like? Yeah, I mean, it's very important. I mean, especially when you want a long playoff run, you've got to be able to know that they trust you, and you're going to have their backs and that they have minds. So, just trying to build that chemistry and that trust with these guys right now, and it means a lot to come into this lineup, and like I said, helping contribute to help the boys win tonight. Tell wild fans about your game when you're going, what do you bring to the table? Yeah, I think, for the most part, for me, just an energy guy. I like to say I win a lot of face-offs, so let's not know it wasn't very good in the dot. It only won one out of like five. So, it wasn't great for a great start for me and the face-off dot. We'll get better at that. It's a good team and face-offs, and I'll have to do some more digging.

10:07But yeah, apparently kill huge and great forechecks, and yeah, just an energy guy. I do a lot of things that don't always add up on the sports sheet to help the team win, and but like I said tonight, I was rewarded with a couple, which feels nice, but that's not what I was brought in here to do, but it does feel good to get a couple tonight. How quickly do you feel you'll be able to get up the speed on the system and stuff and the structure, and what's that like, that process for you as you try to get acclimated? Yeah, I felt lost a couple times in the D zone. They play a bit different defensively than where I came from. Nutrizone and forecheckings all pretty much the same, which is nice, and it'll take me a few games, I think. Tonight I was lost a couple times, not too many times. I was able to find my bearings for the most part. But yeah, it's definitely going to take a few games. It's different, especially when you've been somewhere for so long. Yeah, it's challenging to find different reads. Thankfully, we have a lot of talkers on the ice, which is nice, and everybody has each other's back. They got all the same before with the trust thing, so it seems like these guys trust each other a lot

11:07and have each other's back, so it's good. Where were you when you found out about the trade and take the fans for the last couple of days for you? I'm sure, tomorrow will be a nice day off for you in Denver. I'm sure to get to know your teammates and just rest a little bit and kind of catch your breath, I'm sure. Yeah, I was just warming up for the game off the ice, about 5'36 o'clock. We were playing at seven in Columbus and my coach called me in the room and this time of year, all the meetings were over, so I knew something that was going on, so got on the phone with Barry Trots, and he just told me I was traded to thank me for my services and traded me to Mini. So right from that, I was super excited and scared and a little bit sad because I was there for so long. But as soon as I got home, it was with the family and the wife. She reassured me that change is good. And the next day, I flew out to Mini, had a practice yesterday and flew out to Vegas. I wouldn't necessarily say I had my legs in my lungs, and I was quick shifts out there tonight, and I'm sure in a couple of days, there'll be a lot better for me. Maybe a little bit of nerves, a little bit of everything,

12:08but when you come to a new team, there's a lot of meetings, there's a lot of nerves, and a lot of uncertainty about a lot of things. So tonight was a little bit nerve-wracking, even though you've played so many years and so many games and this league is still nerve-wracking. I said, this game too will be a lot better for me on the ice, so I'll feel a lot better, and things will come a lot more naturally. And Graz on the goal is cis, a win in your wild debut. Thanks for doing this, and welcome to state of hockey. Already, thank you. It's Michael McCarran outside the wild dresser and back to you, Kevin. All right, Joe. Thank you very much for joining us in the post-game show. The new guy will get a gift certificate down to Tom Reed's hockey city pub. He thinks he's having fun now on a team and third place in the center of the vision, hell bent for the Stanley Cup playoffs. We totally checks out Tom Reed's hockey city pub. Talk about taking it to a new level who loves it. I'm excited for him. I'm also excited for the wild getting that victory and they won eight of their last ten. We'll break and then we'll get to John Heinz. John Heinz, post-game comments. You're listening to Wild Hockey, presented by Grand Casino. Yeah, a bit of a whirlwind, a tactic morning for sure.

13:13Got the call, basically, when I woke up, a special call. It's obviously an honor. It was originally growing up a wild vent, so it was a special day. Minnesota's own and Minnetaka's own Bobby Brink on his way. Well, he's with his new team, his former team, the Minnetaka skippers, onto the state final, the championship game against Morehead tomorrow night, seven o'clock at Grand Casino Arena. That's the double-aid championship, the single-aid championship, noon between Hibbing and Warro. It should be a lot of fun. Bobby Brink now joins his new team. It comes to the wild. Right before the NHL trade deadline tonight makes his Minnesota Wild debut. Weird to see the number 10 back out there, but it's Bobby Brink that wears it 13 minutes, 28 seconds of ice time.

14:13Six shots towards the net. One of them found the gold tender. It was stopped. They also ended up with a blocked shot. Bobby Brink in his Minnesota Wild debut. He's a new guy. John Heinz has been here for a little bit. He's with the media. Let's go back out to Team Ovalorino one last time. John, he didn't have much time before the game to meet or talk to some of your new guys, but what were your thoughts of seeing a couple guys in a wild sweater for the first time tonight? It was nice. I thought Bobby and Michael played really well in their first game, and I thought they brought the attributes that they have. Max, a big strong guy, skates well, hard on the puck, guessing that front. Difficult to play against. Bobby was good. He's fast, tenacious. I thought he made some nice plays. So it was nice to see them come in on such short notice and be able to play the way they did. You talked about using these games and trying some different things, different combinations. Tonight, you threw Brink with Bolly and Erickson. What did you think of that combination? I thought it was a good line. You know, I think with Bobby's, I think with his speed and his tenaciousness

15:13and his offensive instincts, it looks like it was a pretty good fit tonight. So that was nice. And I thought, you know, McCarran was good in the middle and then late in the third, or in the third period, we moved him up with Terasenko and trying it. And I thought that was a good line too. And then I thought, you're up with Sturmy and Fabi was good as well. Philip Gustafson was huge tonight and some key spots in the game. His game looks like it's back where it was early in the season. Yeah, I would agree. I think, you know, the game, there was a lot of momentum swings. I thought we carried some play and then they carried some play there and some good looks and things like that. But, you know, we got big stops when we needed them, for sure. And that's what you need from a gold tent. It's nice to see Gus getting some consistency back in this game and playing at a high level. You know, you never know the cause and effect with fights. But, you know, the game is pretty stagnant there in the second and the middle thing gets in the scrap. And you guys score three quick goals after Fabi was involved there as well. Just how nice was that? Yeah, I agree with you. I thought that was a big kind of momentum changer was midsy stepping up there. And obviously, the response of the team was really good,

16:14which is what you want to be able to see. And then, you know, I also like Fabi's. I mean, Bobbi took a bad hit and obviously has a new player, but any player on the team and then Fabi jumps in. And, you know, I like that collective team toughness in that way and guys sticking up for each other. But I thought the timing of Middletons was good. I think it got the guys going a little bit and I think changed the temperature of the game. And then, as I said, I thought Fabi's was good too. I think that's a good team act. You talk about how fortunate you feel to coach in this league. It's your 400th. You're too behind Punch and Lack. That's a name, right there. Yeah, I know. But I mean, 400 victories. Coach and national hockey league, you know, I'm proud of you. Yeah, I'm really proud. I mean, it's obviously a privilege to be able to coach in the league and, you know, thank you for all the players that, you know, I've been able to coach them, the general managers and owners that believe in you. You know, as a coach and I don't take it for granted. I absolutely love what I do. I love coaching this team and hopefully we can continue to get lots more.

17:15The head coach of the Minnesota Wild, John Hines. Congratulations. 400 wins behind an NHL bench. Tonight he gets one with the Minnesota Wild. They take care of business. Double up the Vegas Golden Knights. 4-2 on the road. And sweep the season series. That was nice. But how fun would it be to go to Colorado and get a win over the avalanche? They've already won two or three. Can they make it three or four? We'll preview that. Next, we'll wrap things up. You're listening to Wild Hockey. Presented by Grand Casino. I just been trying to stay calm and you know, not over doing things. And you know, we got some good deed now. And blocking out, boxing out. And you know, the tips have gone my way right now. So I hope it stays that way. Phillip Gustafson gets a third straight start. He stopped there. He started four of the last five out of the Olympic break. Tonight he makes 30 saves and gets the Excel energy

18:17big saves of the game for moments like this. Drive by McCarran covering back there for the defense. Didn't have much behind it. And now I'll break the other way. In a load. Citizens denied by Gustafson on a left pad. Stop in a dance. Chance for the Golden Knights at jailbreak. They've got a chance in a load. Scissors was back in. Gustafson stopped them again. He fought the rebound as well for the new cover. Coleson. They pulled the left wing circle. The rest are muted by Brody. Bounced out in front. Gustafson robbed right in moment. 30 saves total for Phillip Gustafson. Some of the big ones were in that first period. When they were coming at him left and right. But he makes eight stops in the first ten more in the second. Gave up two and the third still 12 saves in the final frame. 30 saves total for Phillip Gustafson. Who gets his 23rd win of the season. And is now 9-1-1 in his last 11 starts. He also gets the XL energy. Big saves of the game powered by XL energy. Probably power in the great state of hockey was safe. Clean and reliable energy. Explore how they're making energy. Work better for you and our communities at excelenergy.com.

19:18It's a victory for the wild. And they take game one of the two game road trip. Game two. It's coming up Sunday afternoon. Against the division leading. Colorado avalanche. The avalanche rallied with a late goal in Dallas to put the game past regulation. Then they grabbed the extra point in the shootout. Avalanche are hot again. They've won four in a row. And six of their last eight on the season series. The wild have actually won two of three. Including a five-two win at ball arena. Just about a week and a half ago. That's where they will be on Sunday afternoon. Wild and avalanche, matinee hockey. Pregame at 12-45 puck drops just after one o'clock Sunday on most of these same stations. Special thanks to Colin Lansdiner, Aaron Sickman, and Dylan Daniel. And for Joe Donnell and Alex Staylock in once again for Tom Reed who should be back next week. Once we get out of the weekend and back on home ice. We'll see you soon there, Mr. Reed, if you're listening. Hard laugh. He's not listening at 12-18 at night. But anyway, for those gentlemen, I'm Kevin Falness.

20:20Thanks for listening. Enjoy your Friday into Saturday. We'll talk to you Sunday afternoon on the Minnesota Wild Radio Network. You've been listening to Minnesota Wild Hockey. Right off the score, it's Suka Rello. Seconds off a face-off. We're drawing this next time, right here, for more Wild Hockey action. It's all re-attached. Break to the slide for pre-submissions. Wild Hockey is an exclusive presentation of Minnesota Wild. The National Hockey League and the Minnesota Wild Radio Network. For an extraordinary advantage in sports, you need a game plan. For an extraordinary advantage everywhere else, all you need is Acroshure. With a high-tech human approach to insurance, cybersecurity and more, Acroshure helps you take care of what you care about. That makes winning easy.

21:20See what Acroshure's extraordinary advantage can do for you at Acroshure.com. For more Wild Hockey, you need a game plan.