Minnesota Wild Open Season with successful West Coast Trip

Sorry Wild fans for no season preview. I haven't paid too much attention to the Wild's preseason and I don't want to put out content I can't put myself behind. 

So here is the first update of the season on the Minnesota Wild!

Brief Preview and Recap
Last season the Wild finished 3rd in the special 2021 West Division and played the Vegas Golden Knights in the first series of the playoffs. They were able to give Vegas all they could handle, winning the first game of the series in Vegas, losing the next and the first at home, before winning 2 of the next three to force a game 7 in Vegas. The Wild lost by a very slim margin and many fans were upset with the ruling on the ice, but the Wild were eliminated in Game 7. However, last season was far from underwhelming. The Wild weren't even supposed to be contending for the playoffs let alone bringing Vegas to Game 7. The season was by far a success and a reminder that the Wild are not really out of it when they have Kaprizov and Fiala playing for them.
Over the offseason the goals for the Wild were to sign their big time free agents. They weren't able to come to an agreement with F Kevin Fiala, so arbitration settled it for a 1 year deal. In theory, the Wild will be looking to try to sign the 23 year old Fiala to a longer deal this year. Minnesota also resigned Calder winner Kirill Kaprizov to a 5 year multi million dollar deal right before training camp. They will have him for a while and better made good use out of him. The team also has several rookies down at the Iowa Wild AHL team waiting in the wings for their first NHL chance.

Successful West Coast Trip
Minnesota was scheduled to visit the West Coast briefly to begin the year, opening the season in Anaheim and LA. They were able to beat both teams by scores of 2-1 and 3-2. The game against the Ducks seemed to be a lot closer for most of the game since the scoring didn't start until the 2nd period. It was 1-1 going into the final 10 minutes at the Honda Center. However, assistant captain Marcus Foligno had other things to say about that and scored the game winning goal with 7.2 seconds to go in regulation! 
Minnesota picked up where they left off when they visited the Kings the next night at Staples Center. They didn't score first but they did score the most. After a 1-1 first period, the Wild came out with a 3-1 lead after the second period. It would have featured a 4th goal if interference wasn't called on the goal. The Kings made it close with their 2nd goal mid-way through the 3rd period, but the Wild pulled through and earned their 2nd win of the young season.

Expectations
The Minnesota Wild have much different expectations this year compared to last year. Now that we know this team can make the playoffs, I expect them to win enough games to secure a seed rather then a wild card. I also think they should be at least able to contend a series if not win the series. If they do, it will be the first time in at least 5 years they won a playoff series.

​Go Wild!!!!