Despite dealing with several blueline injuries and having subpar goaltending for much of the year, the Wild remained one of the NHL’s finest defensive teams.
There are numerous reasons why the Minnesota Wild missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2018-19 and only the second time since 2011-12.
Injuries? Check.
An incapacity to defeat teams ahead of them? Check.
Is the goaltending inadequate? Check.
What about the lack of depth scoring? Check.
A 30th-ranked penalty kill? Check.
although blueline ailments, the Wild’s defense was not a concern this season, although having some moments.
In fact, believe it or not, the Wild were one of the NHL’s top defensive teams this season.
The Wild ranked 16th in the league, with an average of 2.51 goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Average, yeah, but a lot of that may be due to their goaltending. Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury both had outstanding streaks this season, but they finished with save percentages of.899 and.895, respectively.
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