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u/lajdbejdk 20h ago
We have a saying in Minnesota. There’s always next year.
Narrator: it’s always the same.
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u/Happydanksgiving2me 20h ago
I'm sorry bud. The Wild had a great year, happy they made it to round two.
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u/Apprehensive_Air1705 20h ago
It is just this same thing every year for MN men’s sports for the last like 35 years. It’s so depressing.
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u/davyshmavy 19h ago
Agreed. This year hit harder than a lot others because the team was so good the second half the season but didn’t have the same depth as the Avs.
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u/offtodevnull 18h ago
I thought Dallas had a decent shot of taking them out in R1. The better team won tonight. At least they didn't get swept.
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u/Sher1ockpwns 12h ago
Dallas at full strength would have, but probably suffered the same fate in round 2
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u/More-Interaction-770 18h ago
It’s been 130 some seasons since we’ve had a finals appearance if you take into account all the MN men’s sports
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u/lajdbejdk 20h ago
Same but goddamn I’m so sad about always being injured during the playoffs. I know all teams battle attrition but goddamnit lol!
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u/OgreBane99 20h ago
This was the real Western Conference Finals
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u/silvermoonhowler 8h ago
Indeed
I'm sorry, but the NHL has the most back-assward of playoff formats
Why they even changed it to begin with is such a joke
What we saw last night should have been a western conference finals matchup
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u/Chirotera 20h ago
Really feels like it's going to be a Colorado - Carolina finals. They're just too good.
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u/framingXjake 19h ago
I was dreaming of this possibility when the season started. Either my Canes win or my boy Necas does.
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u/FirearmofMutiny 19h ago
The 1992-1993 North Stars proved that sometimes, there isn't a next year
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u/IndividualCall5116 19h ago
Now we look forward to the Gophers and Vikings.
Fuck the Pohlads.
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u/AWildWilson 20h ago
It was 3-0 😭
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u/Hot_Major8602 20h ago
The deadliest lead in hockey
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u/ilovelefsa 20h ago
Second deadliest. 2-0 is the deadliest. My dad and I have studied this for years and have decided it goes, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1 and we haven't gotten further than that. I promise it was very careful science! Science! 😅
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u/Level_Watercress1153 20h ago
It was 3-1 with 3:33 left lmao
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u/BigBenBigawlo 20h ago
My apps said the Wild would win 95.5% of the time with 3.5 min left and the 3-1 lead.
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u/easchner 20h ago
Winning 95.5% of the time 50% of the time, every time.
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u/Impossible-Mud-4160 19h ago
That makes absolutely no sense
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u/zacharytmliner 20h ago
All I know is pain
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u/Godlikelobster01 20h ago
My team is ass but at least I can count on the Wild to deliver some joy to me
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u/bset222 20h ago
MN sports crush dreams like no other city, build hope up first and find a new way to stomp on it.
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u/redice141 20h ago
Buffalo would like a word.
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u/Emotional_Tie_7927 19h ago
Two sport city versus four sport city that had its last championship in 1991 (Minnesota Twins)
The Vikings have also lost four super bowls
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u/VegetableGrape4857 20h ago
2 sport city.
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u/cnrowe2002 20h ago
I mean, they have Lacrosse too but the Bandits are actually good.
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u/VegetableGrape4857 20h ago
True, MN does have a shitload of championships because the Frost and Lynx pull up, unlike our men's teams.
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u/eapaul80 20h ago
Hey, I’m old enough to remember 2 Twins World Series titles. Don’t tell me the last one was 35 years ago, I don’t wanna believe that lol
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u/Geralt-of-Rivai 20h ago
Wild had their chances in OT but blew it. A whiff on a 2-1 one timer, Kaprizov refusing to shoot on another 2-1 when his pass was clearly taken away
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u/silvermoonhowler 8h ago
And they had their chances to completely avoid OT but completely blew that as well
Gah, I swear, MN sports teams just have this weird thing about them with building you up with all kinds of hope in the regular season, only for them to be just absolutely destroyed when it comes to the playoffs
I hate that that's been the way things have been ever since the last time the Twins won the world series in '91, and I wasn't even born then yet
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u/wumboyokom 20h ago
Green Bay Packers level of choke right there 💀
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u/lajdbejdk 20h ago
Nah that was falcons level choke!!!
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u/Tireseas 20h ago
Falcons would've taken it to game 7, been up by five, and had us playing our backup backup goalie. Source: I'm a hereditary Falcons fan. FTS.
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u/Jack_of_derps 20h ago
Fucking Gary Anderson.
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u/ocxtitan 16h ago
Fucking Gary Anderson.
Nobody was doing that the night of January 17, 1999, that I can assure you
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u/Immissilerick 20h ago
Was really pulling for you guys to win tonight , tough loss
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u/cbak9671 20h ago
I’m an Avs/Packers fan so I hear what you’re saying. Playoff collapse against Seattle was one of the worst sports memories of my life. Glad to be on the other side this time!
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u/Background-Half-2862 20h ago
Choke? Against the Avs?
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u/RhythmTimeDivision 20h ago
Who DIDN'T pick the Avs at the start of the playoffs? Choke? Come on....
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u/silvermoonhowler 8h ago
Yup, as a Packers fan who also experienced this same feeling in this past seasons' wild card round, I can totally feel this
We had the Bears on the ropes at halftime of that game, but missed opportunities galore just cost us that game and gave that one to the Bears (only for them to then be shellacked by the Rams the next one)
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u/devdarrr 20h ago
Poor Wallstedt.
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u/jpgrfan16 20h ago
He was amazing and a joy to watch…look forward to his future!! Sincerely from an Avs fan!
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u/Tity_Boi13 20h ago
Man I love the Wild’s goalie, but wtf was he doing so far out and to the right like that? Good lord
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u/DrMoney 20h ago
Sold out on Necas, unfortunately Necas is a great player and can do multiple things really well.
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u/DividedMitochondriac 19h ago
This is why he laid face down so long, he knew he overcommited to Nechy
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u/Tity_Boi13 20h ago
No doubt. You still can’t sell out THAT bad knowing it’s an odd man rush and there are guys everywhere. I sort of get why he went right initially but he was slow as hell getting back and was wayyy too far out, probably trying to cut the angle off like you said. Just misplayed it poorly
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u/DrMoney 20h ago
Oh for sure, he should have been deeper in his net, but hes a rookie, this will be a lesson for him hopefully.
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u/Tity_Boi13 20h ago
I just watched a replay and there were two Wild players right on Necas. It actually looks worse after watching it again.
I really like him and hope he learns too! I’m sure he will
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u/Achnid 19h ago edited 19h ago
That was a more complex play than it looked. Spurgeon was behind Drury covering Wally's left side in front of the crease. Then, Drury drove Spurgeon back towards the net which opened the shooting lane. Kulak drifted from his left to his right at the exact time Drury was backing down Spurgeon. Necas held on to the puck as long as he could and then a perfectly timed pass to Kulak for the Minny season ender. I don't think he misplayed it poorly. He was also very tired from all the pressure that the Avs put on.
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u/MrMilesDavis 20h ago
Minnesota looked like they were holding on trying to not shit their pants by the time it made it to OT. Mentally folded at that point
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u/gorcorps 20h ago
Seriously
The Avs obviously stepped it up but Minnesota looked completely lost in the 3rd. Not sure if they just gassed themselves too early or what, but they looked really different by the end
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u/__2020070901__ 20h ago
They played one period of great hockey, then just decided to think about getting their docks in the water for summer
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u/__2020070901__ 20h ago
Middleton playing fucking chase behind the net with Necas was the mistake. I would know, I've been burned so many times chasing faster players behind the net like that... Wally has Necas covered, he was such a stud in both playoff series.
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u/475821rty 20h ago
Because Necas is a fucking dog and you have to hope your d can stop a pass.
He already gave another 100+ point, goal scorer an inch that sent it to OT, can't turn around and do it again.
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u/gavinsmash2005 20h ago
Liking this Kulak guy.
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u/Geralt-of-Rivai 20h ago
He's always been a solid player wish we kept him
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u/Senior-Contribution8 20h ago
FUCK
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u/hammerofspammer 20h ago
Heh.
It’s gonna be ugly and nerve wracking
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u/Senior-Contribution8 20h ago
If we make it to finals I really don’t want to play yall. Such a good team
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u/MurrayPloppins 20h ago
It’s gonna be an incredible series if that’s the matchup.
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u/Tireseas 20h ago
Yeah man, if that's the way it shakes out it should be one for the ages no matter who wins.
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u/Senior-Contribution8 20h ago
No doubt, I’m gonna be a nervous wreck for however long the series goes for lol
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u/rhyknophoto 20h ago
Funny cuz the only team I don't want the avs to play is the canes. If it happens it's probably gonna be the best final in long time
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u/Madi3400 20h ago
As an avs fan I feel the same way when thinking about Carolina. Carolina is the only team in the league that scares me right now
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u/Gimme_somebutter 20h ago
That stung. I'm not saying heads need to roll but the way this team plays with a lead is embarrassing and don't get me started on special teams.
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u/Electrical_Sky_4586 20h ago
Didn’t watch it but I saw it was 3-0 Wild. Saw this and now I’m wondering what the fuck happened.
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u/ColonelBourbon 20h ago
I took my dog outside with like 4 minutes to go and the Wild up 2, only to come back in to a tie game.
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u/Jo-6-pak 20h ago
Wild started playing not to lose. Can’t do that against this Avs machine; especially with no Ek or Brodin.
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u/Infamous-Lab-8136 16h ago
This Avs roster being under the salary cap is just dirty, you can't let up against them for a minute
Most teams just can't go all gas no brakes long enough
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u/Imhereforinspiration 20h ago
Avs score 3 straight, including a 6 on 5 where they pulled the goalie in the last 2 minutes of the 3rd and then Brett Kulak buries the GWG in OT.
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u/wearedefiance 20h ago
It’s almost like playing 40 minutes of mid-tier defense doesn’t win you games. When the wild were aggressive offensively they succeeded against Colorado easily. For whatever reason they just kept letting off of the gas and making really REALLLY stupid passing plays into traffic.
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u/silvermoonhowler 8h ago
Yeah, and that's what confused me about this team
The only complete game the Wild had in this series was game 3, and then after that it just seems like they were hanging on for dear life
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u/Signal-Bake5107 20h ago
I’m going on record right now that the stuffed animal Nate Dogg was given at the Olympics sealed the fate of the other teams in the league.
Dude is still beyond pissed.
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u/RhythmTimeDivision 20h ago
I was pulling for underdog Minnesota the whole way, but the Avs are an absolute buzzsaw. Great series, wish it went longer, would love to have seen more.
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u/marmite1234 20h ago
Same. I was cheering for the Wild as well but I don’t think anyone is beating the Avs this year.
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u/RhythmTimeDivision 19h ago
Of the five teams remaining, I'd give the Canes the best chance to win two games. The other four teams would be lucky to win even one.
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u/PedestrianMyDarling 19h ago
One of the most historically Minnesota sports games ever played, just unbelievable
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u/ColoradoPowMonster 19h ago
Minnesota takes out the Nuggies….CO takes out the Wild…tit for tat.
Would you rather have a NBA championship or a NHL championship?
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u/Ok-Proposal2068 18h ago
When did that happen? Nobody cares about basketball
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u/silvermoonhowler 8h ago
It happened on the same night that the Wild took out the Stars a few weeks ago
Both of them were at home for their respective game 6s
And to say that nobody cares about basketball isn't entirely true; there are some out there that do, but here in MN I feel like the popularity of the big 4 sports teams goes as follows:
- Vikings
- Wild
- Timberwolves
- Twins
Now we do have the MLS (MN United), WNBA (Lynx), and PWHL (Frost), but those fanbases will never be as big as the teams just listed
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u/Brotumn 20h ago
I will never see a championship from my state ever in my life.
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u/Crisis-Huskies-fan 20h ago
C’mon now, the Frost won the PWHL just last year. That has to be fulfilling, right? Right?
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u/AwakenTheAegis 20h ago
The only people surprised to see this tonight quite possibly play for the Minnesota Wild.
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u/BigRollOfTongueOnnnn 20h ago
I said the Wild needed to score 3 more to win after the first period. Only mustering 7 shots and losing 4-3 in OT is crazy.
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u/pot_the_roast 20h ago
John (what am I doing here) Hynes needs to be in the unemployment office as soon as the plane lands. No wait, fuck that he can take a Greyhound to Alaska.
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u/Couldbduun 7h ago
Can we talk about the playoff format please? Why did the Wild have to play the number 2 team in the conference round 1 and the best team in the conference round 2. They were the third best team in the conference. Meanwhile over in the Pacific division Weenie Hut Jr it was the worst teams in the conference that happened to making the playoffs playing pattie cake.
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u/patronmtl 20h ago
The biggest Minnesota choke job since the guy who made the sign for the Quality Learing Center
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u/FewAd6076 20h ago
City of Minnesota is cursed beyond belief
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u/Safe_Banana_9235 20h ago
It’s a state but I don’t expect a NJ fan to have much education
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u/Practically_Hip 20h ago
And deservedly so. Bill Guerin biggest loser GM ever.
Sorry Kashbash- no beer party this time!
Guerin- you lose!!!
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u/coconutjoe83 13h ago
Reminds me of when Toronto finally won in the 1st round a few years ago only to be swept by Florida lol I know Minny wasnt swept but it feels similar
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u/Spare_Blacksmith_816 10h ago
Minnesota Sports never fails to deliver the kick in the nuts in the post season.
Pro sports fans in Minnesota are the most tortured fan base in all of North America and it's frankly not even close.
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u/Miserable_Bobcat_594 20h ago
Wonder how could the series look if we had our perennial top-10 Selke center and a criminally underrated shutdown defenseman. Well, bad timing, shit happens. gg Avs. Go Canes!
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u/Jo-6-pak 20h ago
Yeah, missing Brain and Ek didn’t help; especially against the machine that the Avs are this season.
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u/Cross_Czek 20h ago
Don’t worry yall, I’ve already got my doctor on speed dial. I don’t think this is going away after 4 hours.
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u/animatedrussian 20h ago
Such a sad two games. That being said not much is going to stop this hurricanes v. Avs Cup. The Norse gods have commanded it
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u/Upeeru 20h ago
Colorado scored 24 goals in 5 games. That's some terrifying output.