The Vancouver Canucks found success this season when they were capable of being an offensive force. How does that same offense stack up against the Wild?
Scheduled for a clash sometime this summer, the Vancouver Canucks will meet the Minnesota Wild in a best-of-five play-in series. The winner will advance into the final 16, or if you prefer, the first official round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
As we know, the Wild are the superior team on defense, but thankfully the Canucks have a forward group that simply can’t be matched by the players Minnesota has to offer. That’s where Vancouver will need to be at their best if they wish to knock off their Western Conference enemy. Bo Horvat and company will need to find a way to do whatever it takes to outplay the Wild’s best defenders. That’s how they’ll win.
Even though the difference in goals between clubs is only eight (in favor of the Canucks), Vancouver proved to be the much more lethal team when they had control of the puck. The possession numbers for the Wild may have been much higher throughout the season in comparison, but the talent level in Vancouver’s top-six was enough to not only keep pace but actually lead the Pacific Division all together.
The Wild, on the other hand, play things by the book. Not too many passes, nothing too flashy. Just a simple all-around team effort mentality. Don’t get me wrong, interim head coach Dean Evason knows what he’s doing, and he knows how to get the best out of his players. With a team shooting percentage of 9.43%, Evason has his team ranked second across the league in that category as he makes sure his players hit the net and don’t waste any scoring chances. Markstrom best be ready, Minny is all about quality over quantity here.
On paper, the Wild appear to be the weaker team offensively. Where the Canucks have a plethora of skillful youth, the Wild match it with NHL experience. Something that can’t be overlooked. In order to see who has the offensive advantage, let’s dive deeper into the best players each team has to offer.